The reason assigned for withholding the grant is that these institutions have failed to obtain ‘B’ grade by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) during their evaluation. The president of the Federation of University & College Teachers’ Association in Karnataka (FUCTAK) president Prof A M Narahari told Deccan Herald  that more than 700 employees of 25 colleges are in dire straits as they had not received salaries since November 2007. He also alleged that the bureaucrats were misleading the Governor and the absence of an elected government added to their woes.

The Collegiate Department had stopped the release of the salary grants after 47 aided colleges failed to obtain ‘B’ grade, out of 300 institutions that had applied for the accreditation grades in 2006. The government then withdrew the decision and stipulated time till November 2007 for them to improve the grade. Twenty one colleges succeeded in obtaining ‘B’ grade and 26 colleges failed to do so.

However, five colleges obtained the grade in December 2007 and the government decided to take over one aided college. But quoting the rules, the Collegiate Education department withheld the salary grants to 25 colleges (excluding the one taken over by the government) from November 2007, resulting in protests from the employees of these colleges.

“The release of salary grants and obtaining grades are two different issues which should not be linked. The quality of an institution depends on various factors and the NAAC officials fix parameters without considering ground realities of the colleges in rural and semi-urban areas,” said C H Murigendrappa, General Secretary, FUCTAK.

“Our stand is clear: releasing salary grants and obtaining grades should not be linked. Sufficient time should be given to improve the grade as it’s a lengthy process. The State and Central governments and managements should play the role of supportive agencies and employees alone should not be held responsible for poor show,” he urged.

 Shivashankaraiah M, Principal, SMFS College of Arts and Commerce, Honnalli also questioned as to why the employees of the Government colleges (more than 50 per cent) which had failed to obtain ‘B’ grade continued to receive their salary.

QUOTES HANGER

It’s a one-sided and unscientific decision, which will affect prospects of several aided institutions.

Shivashankaraiah M, Principal, SMFS College of Arts and Commerce, Honnalli. Employees of more than 50 per cent of the colleges with ‘B’ grade contributed from their pockets to provide infrastructure and get good grade. What is the role of managements and the government here?

C H Murugendrappa, General Secretary, FUCTAK.

The State government is treating aided institutions as second rate citizens by discriminating between government colleges and private colleges. Officials have violated KEI (CE) Rules 2003 norms while withholding the salary grants.

Prof N Chandranna, Bhagwan Buddha First Grade College, Bangalore.

The government should rethink about the whole issue. The plight of the family members of the employees should be considered and salaries should be released immediately.

Prof Nagaraj, Vidyavardhak College, Bangalore.