Non-disbursal of payment: Polytechnic staff left in lurch

 
Being unpaid for the past nine months, these staff are wondering whether the government really has money in its treasury.

Upset over government’s apathy in releasing salary to the colleges, the staff of HMS College in Tumkur are silently protesting by boycotting the classes.

“We have not been paid since the last October,” complained a teacher from Tipu Shahid Polytechnic in Hubli.

“With price of essential commodities going up how does the government expect us to live,” said a teacher from Hamsabhavi Rural Polytechnic of Haveri. 

Most of the polytechnic colleges have not been received payment since October 2009 and as many as 2500 both teaching and non-teaching staff have been left in lurch.

The administrative managements are expressing their helplessness in making payments for the staff, complained a staff.

Governor’s order

About 85 per cent of salary issued by the government to private aided engineering college and polytechnic staff and 15 per cent of payment to be provided by the concerned organisations should be deposited in the nationalised banks.

And payment should be made from this to the teaching and non-teaching staff of the colleges, said a notification issued by the Governor   (on July 29, 2009) to technical education director. But the government has failed to act upon this yet, complain the staff in Tumkur.

Minister’s failed promise

It may be recalled here, MLCs under the leadership of Basavaraj Horatti had brought the issue to Minister Aravind Limbavali’s notice. When the same issue rocked the Assembly the minister had promised to issue the salary by Jan 31, 2010. But he has failed to keep up his promise.

“When he has failed to meet his promise, why cant we move breach of previlege motion against the minister,” questions a teacher. 

Frustrated over non-payment, a polytechnic teacher of Banmaiah Poytechnic College committed suicide. But the government seems to have not taken this to the notice, complained a teacher here.