Grim prospects stare at aided college teachers
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 22 2016: Many teachers of the six aided colleges of Manipur which have been granted permanent affiliation to the University Grants Commission (UGC) are likely to go home empty handed when they retire from service.

The six Government-aided colleges are Biramangol College, Thambal Marik College, Liberal College, Kakching Khunou College, Mayai Lambi College and Standard College.

They have around 10852 students in aggregate against around 400 teachers.

Their monthly salaries are being paid by the contributions made by respective college management committees and 70 approved teachers.

A teacher serving in a Government-aided college for more than 35 years has been receiving just Rs 7000 as monthly salary while salaries of junior teachers vary between Rs 2500 and Rs 5000 .

Speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club here today, All Manipur Government-Aided College Teachers' Association (A-MACTA) vice-president Dr M Somorendro said that not only the teachers but their offsrpings have to live in penury as they have nothing to take home when they retire from service.

There were 105 approved posts in the six Government-aided colleges.

But the number of approved teachers has declined to 70 as many of them have either retired or expired.

If the present pathetic condition persists any longer, all the Government-aided colleges may face complete shut down, he said.

Although successive Governments had assured repeatedly to upgrade the Government-aided colleges to full fledged Government colleges, the assurances remain unfulfilled till date.

There are many vacant posts of approved teachers who are given monthly salary of just Rs 32,000 and they are not entitled to pension benefits.

He urged the Government to frame a clear policy for aided college teachers and staff and upgrade the aided colleges into full fledged Government colleges.

Saying that they have been silently bearing all the difficulties so as not to disturb academic atmosphere and in view of the many pressing issues of the State, Dr Somorendro urged the Government to take a concrete decision with regard to Government-aided colleges during the ongoing Assembly session else aided college teachers and staff would be constrained to launch different modes of agitation.

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