12 colleges staring at crisis owing to non-availability of funds from Delhi govt

Over 2,700 teaching and non-teaching staff of 12 Delhi University colleges may not get salaries from this month if the AAP government continues to withhold release of funds over non-formation of governing bodies.

These 12 colleges, fully funded by the Delhi government, are facing a severe financial crunch and finding it difficult to pay salaries and develop infrastructure.

The issue of formation of governing bodies has resulted in an impasse between Delhi University and the city government, with both accusing each other of delaying the process.

A Delhi government official said, "There is no delay from our side. As soon as we get response on the clarification we sought from colleges, we will proceed."
Anurag Mishra, a professor at Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College, said, "The salaries of teaching and non-teaching staff have been delayed. We have exhausted funds."
According to an official from Acharya Narendra Dev College, who requested anonymity, "The college has been forced to divert funds from college society fund to salary account. This can only go on for a month or so. The college has not even released the arrears of seventh pay commission to our teachers. The college principal has sent two letters to the Delhi government urging it to release funds but to no avail."
"The stopping of grants by any agency -- Delhi government or UGC -- is detrimental to the overall health of an institution. This is not an acceptable form of tussle between two powerful bodies..."
An official from Aditi Mahavidyalaya said, "From the last two months, we have been paying the salaries of teachers from the student fund but this is a temporary solution. We do not have money left to pay the salary of teachers from next month. The college wrote two letters to the Higher Education Department of the Delhi government in April and May but there has been no response."