GUWAHATI, May 10 ? Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has assured the Vice-Chancellor and the Executive Council of Gauhati University that although a 10 per cent reduction in the statutory grant to the University had to be made, the payment of the salaries to the university teachers would not be affected in any way as the State Government would be taking all possible measures to ensure normal payment of salaries to them, said an official press release here today. The Chief Minister was holding a meeting with the Vice-Chancellor and the Executive Council members of Gauhati University yesterday at Janata Bhavan. Sri Gogoi also allayed the apprehension of the university authorities regarding payment of salaries to the teachers of its affiliated colleges saying that the present reduction in grants-in-aid to the colleges under deficit grant scheme would not pose any problem for the college teachers in getting their due salaries.
On the matter of payment of the balance amount of arrears due to university teachers against revised UGC scales of pay, the Chief Minister said that the Central Government had already sanctioned Rs 25 crore for payment of UGC pay scale arrears to the State Government, but the funds are yet to be released. As soon as the funds are received, the same would be distributed proportionately among the university and the college teachers. In this connection, the Chief Minister added that he himself was in touch with the Union Human Resource Development Minister Dr Murli Manohar Joshi for early release of the said funds. The deputationists pleaded for restoration of the quantum of monthly grants-in-aid used to be paid to Gauhati University as in 2001-2002. The Chief Minister agreed to consider the matter and take necessary steps in this regard.
The Vice-Chancellor and the members of the Executive Council also pointed out to the fact that the development grant of Rs 1.5 crore sanctioned in 2001-2002 was not released in full. The Chief Minister agreed to consider whether the balance amount could be released from the savings of the plan funds, if any, of the State towards the end of the current financial year. The Chief Minister strongly decried the move of Gauhati University Teachers? Association to launch agitation from May 16 next by boycotting all examinations of the university. He said, it would not at all be befitting for the university teachers, who are considered to be the cream of the elite and intellectual section of the society, to go for agitation over such issues, particularly when the Government was already taking necessary steps for redressal. He called upon the university teachers to refrain from agitational approach in the greater interests of the student community and the people of the State.