Govt rolls back 70-30 funding formula for central universities

Concerned over agitations and protests by universities over the implementation of a funding policy of the seventh pay commission (CPC), the University Grants Commission (UGC) clarified that institutions will not have to generate partial funds to meet the increased expenditure on their own.

The letter, sent to vice-chancellors of all 40 central universities as well as vice-chancellors/ directors of UGC-funded Deemed to be Universities, said that according to instructions received from the Union Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry on March 26, “it is clarified that for those centrally-funded institutions whose salary commitments are being met by the UGC/MHRD, the increased liabilities due to revision of 7th CPC pay scales will be fully met by the Central government.”

Universities thought they would have to shell out 30% of the increased expenditure — probably through fee hikes — because the government had said it would pay for 70%.

Teachers of the Delhi University went on strike against the move last week and the Federation of Central University Teachers’ Associations is expected to take out a rally on March 28. Their demands include rollback of autonomy granted to several central institutions earlier this month.

Earlier, the Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) in a press release had said: “Teachers and karamcharis are anguished about the delay in disbursement of revised salaries as per the 7th Pay Revision. There is a growing fear it may get further delayed because of the 30-70% funding formula notified by the MHRD.”

The DU had approved the revision in pay scales for both teaching and non-teaching employees as per the seventh CPC, in an executive council meeting held earlier this month.

NEWDELHI: