Over 1,500 teachers working in 96 aided colleges across the state are facing financial distress as their salaries have reportedly not been disbursed for the past two months. The delay has raised concerns over administrative inefficiency and policy gaps affecting the education sector.
Aided colleges, though privately managed, operate under government regulations and receive grant-in-aid to cover operational expenses, including salaries. Despite this arrangement, teachers claimed that timely payment remains an issue. The other key issues are absence of government employee status, denial of gratuity benefits, lack of medical facilities, exclusion from government welfare schemes and neglect of women employees’ entitlements.
The College Teachers Association has approached the offices of the Chief Minister, Education Minister, and senior education department officials, but no relief has been provided so far. Dr Sudeep Kumar, president of the association, said delays of two to three months in salary disbursal had become a routine. “The delay has not only created financial hardship but also has taken a toll on the mental health of teachers,” he said.
A teacher said the non-payment of dues had hit their normal life as they were unable to pay for basic living expenses, education fee of their children and house rent.
Treasury-based salary disbursement
The teachers have demanded that salaries be released through the government treasury system to ensure transparency and timely payments. The association has alleged that aided college teachers face discrimination compared to their counterparts in government institutions.
Kumar said even unskilled workers in the private sector were entitled to basic benefits, whereas aided-college teachers continued to be deprived of such rights.
Healthcare coverage
Teachers have also raised concerns about inconsistencies in medical reimbursement. They do not receive medical benefits akin to government employees, and are excluded from schemes like Ayushman Bharat, often on the grounds of being in a higher income category.
“Ironically, we are counted as a part of a higher income group, that’s why we were excluded from healthcare benefits, This contradiction leaves us in a constant state of uncertainty,” Kumar said.
Also, while the government has increased casual leave for women employees from 20 to 25 days annually, this benefit has reportedly not been implemented in aided colleges. A woman employee said: “We are denied the benefits of welfare schemes despite policy announcements. Our struggle is for dignity, rights, and recognition.”
