Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 07 2008:
Contradictory to the directive of the UGC to release 40 percent arrears to the non-teaching staff of Manipur University before the last Diwali festival from the amount sanctioned by the UGC in accordance with the 6th Pay Commission, the Manipur University authority has been holding back the arrears till date.
An official source informed that following an order issued by the Government of India to enforce the recommendations of the 6th Pay Commission in all the Central universities of the country, the Manipur University authority was intimated in black and white to release 40 percent of the due arrear to the non-teaching staff in accordance with the 6th Pay Commission.
For the current fiscal of 2008-09, the UGC released Rs 14 .07 crores as first instalment to Manipur University under the Annual General Development Plan Grant on October 1 this year.
A few days letter, UGC issued a written instruction to MU authority to release 40 percent of the due arrear to the non-teaching staff.
According to the official source, the total amount required for paying 40 percent arrear to the non-teaching staff is around Rs one crore and seven lakhs.
As per the written instruction of the UGC, the arrear may be paid from the amount it released to MU under the Annual General Development Plan Grant.
This is evident from the fact that the MU authority had already spent the amount sanctioned in the last fiscal year and utilisation certificate submitted.
However, the MU authority spent the amount in paying bills for major and minor construction works, purchasing laboratory equipment, books for library and other pending bills contending that the UGC's written instruction did not mention about paying arrear from the Rs 14.07 crores it sanctioned.
The matter of non-payment of arrear to non-teaching staff was discussed during a meeting attended by the Vice-Chancellor, Finance Officer, Deputy Finance Officer, MU engineers and representatives of the Manipur University Staff Association on December 1 .
During the meeting, the MU authority clarified that the first instalment of Rs 14.07 crores sanctioned under the Annual General Development Plan Grant has been spent and the utilisation certificates submitted.
Nevertheless, they assured that arrears of the non-teaching staff will be paid once the UGC release the second instalment of the grant.
However, the Manipur University Staff Association has strong exception to MU authority's non-compliance of the UGC instruction, conveyed the source.