Govt delays payment; edu institutions opt for loans

The Maharashtra government has been assuring payment of unpaid dues to unaided schools and colleges for many years, now it has assured that it will clear the payment before March 2019. Looking at this lax approach of the government, some educational institutions have decided to raise loans to pay teachers and professors their salaries and meet other requirements of the institution.

The government has not cleared payment of unaided schools and colleges on several occasions. These dues are the fee of students under reserved category which the government is liable to pay to educational institutions.

The unaided entities do not charge fee from students falling under reserved category, which account to around 50 per cent in the state.

Speaking to FPJ, Vijay Bedekar,

We are taking a loan to pay our teachers. We cannot wait endlessly for government funds to come in. — VIJAY BEDEKAR, Chairman, Vidya Prasarak Mandal, Thane

Chairman, Vidya Prasarak Mandal, Thane, said, “We are taking a loan to pay our teachers. We cannot wait endlessly for government funds to come in.” He added government rules are such that donations have become unattractive among people, leading institutions to look at other avenues for funds.

Taking loans to pay salaries of teachers is a short-term solution, added the secretary, Maharashtra School Principals’ Association, Prashant Redij.

“This will just put institutions in bad state as they will have to shell out interest over these loans raised,” added Redij. “It would be

This will just put institutions in bad state as they will have to shell out interest over the loans raised.

— PRASHANT REDIJ, Secy, Maharashtra School Principals’ Association

ideal for institutions to look for donations or other finance options.” Redij was one of the 1,500 teachers of the state’s unaided schools who protested at Azad Maidan, Fort, over non-payment of salaries etc.

“After the protest, the government assured us payment of dues before March. This is government’s yet another political jhumla.”

Redij added any political party that comes to power never understands the importance of education.

“The March deadline is yet another way to politicise the whole issue. We understand it but we waited for so long, we will wait for few months more.”