Aided college teachers decry apathy
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 28 2012: Even though Aided colleges have been taking a major part in higher education for the last 30 years, it remains a big question whether or not teaching staff of these aided colleges are getting the benefits entitled to them under guidelines of the University Grants Commission (UGC) .

There are six aided colleges��Thambalmarik College, Liberal College, Kakching Khunou College, Mayai Lambi College, Standard College and Biramangol College, which have been granted permanent affiliation by Manipur University under UGC Act 1956 .

Talking with TSE, some teachers who have been working in Government aided colleges for the last many years said that there are 22 Government colleges in the State but many of them have very few students.

Nevertheless, there are around 12,000 students in the six Government aided colleges which is around 2000 students per college on the average.

Apart from denying regular salaries to the teaching staff of these aided colleges, the Government and college governing bodies have not taken up any measures to make their service condition secure.

Salaries being given to aided college teachers is lower than even the minimum wage fixed by the Government.

It was in 1986-87 that posts for teaching staff of aided colleges were created.

As per UGC guidelines, there should be three teachers for a general Arts subject, five for an Arts (Honours) subject, four for a general Science subject and six for a Science (Honours) subject.

Even though the State Government has been contending that too many teachers were recruited in aided colleges, not a single teacher was recruited against the UGC guideline, asserted the aggrieved teachers.

According to an order issued by the Government in December 2000, six Principals, 99 lecturers and six Librarians were approved for the six aided colleges.

Of the 99 approved lecturers, 12 were for Thambalmarik College, 15 for Liberal College, 20 for Kakching Khunou College, 15 for Mayai Lambi College, 10 for Standard College and 27 for Birmangol College.

But many of these approved posts have been lying vacant after retirement of teachers.

Though these posts have been approved by the Government, the teachers on retirement did not get any benefit which are entitled to Government college teachers.

Moreover, the salary given to aided college teachers is not even half the amount given to their counterparts working in Government colleges.

There are three financial sources for aided colleges.

One is the monthly salary given by Government for sanctioned posts under ROP 1999 in accordance to UGC guidelines.

Second source is UGC grant for infrastructure development, remedial coaching and library.

Third source is the fees collected from students.

Even though many approved posts have been lying vacant, UGC has been releasing its periodical grants without fail but it remains a mystery as to where the Government has put these grants.

Moreover, college governing bodies have been paying teachers only half the amount given by UGC for remedial coaching.

Following introduction of semester system, each student is charged a fee of Rs 3700 for one semester.

On the average, each aided college collects Rs 74 lakhs from students in one semester.

In addition, the UGC has been giving Rs four to five lakhs to the aided colleges based on students' strength.

Despite all these financial sources, teachers working in aided colleges for the last 30 years have been enduring severe financial difficulties because they have been getting only a pittance as salary.

In their struggle for livelihood, the teachers are unable to focus on their work.

Rather, they are looking for other sources of income generation including networking business.

One primary reason for the woes of aided college teachers is insincerity on the part of the Government and college governing bodies.

Usually, governing bodies of aided colleges include Government nominees but the posts of chairmen are held by local people.

However, in other States like Assam, the post of chairman is held by a Government official who is not below the rank of Secretary.

Manipur too needs similar reforms, asserted the aggrieved teachers.

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