Bihar: University teachers to celebrate ‘Penniless Holi’

NEW DELHI, FEB 21: The University teachers and other non-teaching staff in Bihar are likely to celebrate ‘pennyless Holi’ as the education department is yet to release the fund to universities. The staff associated with the University as well as the ones who have retired have not been paid salary, pension since October.

The Budget Session of the state for the financial year 2018-19 is to commence from 28th of this month but universities are yet to get allocations of FY 2017-18.

Kanhaiya Bahadur Sinha President, Federation of University Teachers' Associations of Bihar (FUTAB) has alleged that the Nitish government “Sushasan” finds its graveyard in the education department.

He has alleged, “The teachers, employees both working and retired in the universities of Bihar, who have not been paid salary, pension, since October this year are most likely to have a penniless Holi festival.”

FUTAB President and General Secretary, Sanjay Kumar Singh pointed out that the state cabinet passed, though belated, grants in January itself in two installments but the state education department is yet to release the same. It is now more than certain that even if grants are released to universities now, it will not reach teachers and other staff before Holi festival.

The teachers association has urged the Chief Minister to take serious note of these lapses, casting severe dent to Sushasan claim of his government. It must be probed as to why cabinet decisions on payment of salary, pension, pensionable benefits and it arrears remain unimplemented for over a month, creating lack of faith in even cabinet decisions.