Federation of University & College Teachers’ Association in Karnataka (FUCTAK) members staged a protest rally in front of MG Statue in Bangalore on Saturday, demanding that the collegiate education department immediately release the salaries of teaching and non teaching staff of 20 government-aided colleges all over the State, which have been due from three months.

“The department has withheld the salaries of nearly 500 teaching and non-teaching staff on the pretext that their colleges have failed to obtain ‘B’ grade during evaluation by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). These employees face the threat of losing their jobs,” the protesters said.

 The Federation opposed the department’s decision to include a provision in the Act that the government should not sanction aid to those aided colleges that fail to obtain a B grade from NAAC. Out of 300 aided colleges, 47 colleges obtained ‘C’ grade and the department stopped giving aid in 2006.

The government withdrew the decision of the department and gave enough time for colleges to improve their grades.

Nearly 27 colleges have improved their condition and obtained the ‘B’ grade, while the remaining colleges are also trying to do the same. The department has withheld salaries despite the best efforts by these colleges, they
accused.