Teachers’ bodies of four Jharkhand universities to mount pressure for 7th pay gratuity

SUBHASH MISHRA

Dhanbad, Aug 11: Following Ranchi University’s step, teachers’ bodies of four universities of the state have resolved to rake up the issue for implementation of the 7^th pay gratuity payment.

The teachers of Jharkhand universities have been paid a salary under the 7^th pay scale from 1-1-2016 but the gratuity is still paid to the retired teachers under the 6^th Pay scale (maximum Rs 10 lakh) in four universities. In the 7^th pay scale, gratuity should be paid a maximum of Rs 20 lakh.

Ranchi University on Thursday resolved to pay retired teachers the 7^th pay gratuity from the notification date.

Shyama Prasad Mukherjee University, Ranchi and Kolhan University, Chaibasa are two other universities in the state that have already started paying the 7^th pay gratuity to their retired teachers.

Gratuity payment is held up at Kolhan University due as a sub judice matter. A retired postgraduate teacher Prof MN Tiwary has filed a writ in the High Court demanding the gratuity payment from the notification date. However, PG Teachers’ Association president  Prof Rajendra Bharti said the issue is likely to be settled soon.

Retired teachers of four other universities of the state, including Binod Bihari Mahto Koylanchal University (BBMKU) Dhanbad, Sido Kanhu Murmu University (SKMU) Dumka, Vinoba Bhave University (VBU) Hazaribag and Nilamber Pitamber University (NPU) Palamu are yet to get the gratuity under the 7th pay.

BBMKU Teachers Association general secretary Dr Himanshu Shekhar and spokesperson  Dr Jitendra Aryan said that the teachers’ body has been working continuously for the 7^th pay gratuity. “ Now,  Ranchi University has decided to implement, so we would also mount pressure on our university to start,” said  Dr Aryan.

SKMU Teachers Association general secretary Dr Santosh Sil said that at present the university is under an acting Vice-Chancellor. After the appointment of a regular  VC, the teachers’ body would rake up the issue for the same.

VBU Hazaribagh PG Teachers Association vice-president Sukalyan Moitra said that at present the university is under a caretaker V-C. When the three universities have started giving the 7^th pay gratuity, there is no reason to hold up the same in VBU for a long time, he said.