In order to retain qualified faculty especially in elite state-run/aided institutions, the Human Resource Development Ministry has urged the Planning Commission to de-link the salary and incentive package for university and college teachers from the Pay Commission’s recommendations for government employees.

Faced with acute shortage of faculties as more and more teachers are shifted from government institutions to private ones offering an attractive pay package, the ministry has sent a proposal to the Commission to take necessary measures on this issue in the 11th Plan.

“There is a need to attract and retain good faculty especially in central educational institutions by evolving a suitable reward or incentive package, de-linked from the Pay Commission’s recommendations for government employees,” HRD Minister Arjun Singh said in his note to the Plan Panel.

He also urged the Plan Panel to give a favourable response to the proposal of the Department of Higher Education to increase the number of professors of eminence from 100 to 500.

“There is no justification for a cap of 100 on the number of professors of eminence for a country of our size,” he said.

The Knowledge Commission headed by entrepreneur and policy maker Sam Pitroda has already recommended giving more incentives to good teachers to retain quality faculty in colleges and universities.

“Even if we cannot introduce penalties for non-performance, it is necessary to introduce rewards for performance,” the Commission said in its recommendations on higher education, suggesting salary differentials within and between universities as a means of attracting and retaining talented faculty members.

“The salary differentiation among teachers within the same university needs to reflect the opportunity costs for teachers in some departments. This will help retain talent in some disciplines where remuneration in the market is much higher than in other subjects,” it said.

Admitting that universities could not compete with salaries elsewhere like the corporate world, the commission said they should endeavour to provide a comfortable minimum for all, with some premium for those who perform.

To look into the issue of salary hike of teachers, the University Grants Commission has recently set up a committee under Prof G K Chadha, member, Economic Advisory Council to the prime minister.

The issue of de-linking from Pay Commission’s recommendations also falls within the purview of the committee.
The committee would examine the present structure of emoluments and conditions of service of university and college teachers, librarians, physical education teachers and other academic staff.

Within a deadline of one year the committee would review structure of emoluments taking into account the minimum qualifications, career advancement opportunities and the total package of benefits available to the teachers, such as superannuation benefits, medical and housing facilities.