Delhi govt releases fund for teachers’ salaries; DUTA says inadequate

New Delhi, May 8 (IANS) As the Arvind Kejriwal government released Rs 18.75 crore as the grant-in-aid for salary payments to employees of 12 Delhi University colleges, the Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) said the grant released was “inadequate”.

The government has released the grant-in-aid on Thursday to which the teachers’ body reacted on Friday.

While the DUTA has been demanding funds for its salaries and medical bills, retirement benefits and other development expenses; the Delhi government released the money only for the payment of salaries.

In a statement, the DUTA on Friday said it will continue to pursue the matter.

“Meanwhile, grants should be put to use as quickly as the colleges receive them and salaries should be disbursed,” it said.

Members of the Academic Council and the DUTA wrote to Chief Minister Kejriwal earlier this month over the non-issuance of funds to 12 Delhi government-funded colleges since March.

“Thousands of teaching and non-teaching employees and their families of 12 Delhi government-funded colleges are hit with the double whammy – COVID-19 pandemic and the non-payment of salary from March. Despite our repeated requests and a day-long hunger strike over the issue of non-release of required funds by Delhi government, there is no positive development regarding this,” said the letter.

It said that this delay has not only affected the salary payments, but medical bills, retirement benefits and other development expenses are also pending.

–IANS

nks/kr