The government on Thursday attributed the delay in disbursement of salaries for teaching and non-teaching staff in the society-run government colleges because of the change in the pattern of approval for grants introduced from this academic year.
Education Minister R. Kamalakannan told presspersons here on Thursday that all along Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy was having the powers to give the nod for releasing grants to the colleges. But the Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi for the first time intervened and took the stand that she alone had the authority to give approval for ‘Block Sanction’ of grants.
Mr. Kamalakannan said there was virtually no delay and the pattern of approval will be adopted in future so that there would be no problem in releasing salaries for teaching and non-teaching staff.
Cauvery issue
For 2018-19, sanction has been obtained for release of grants relating to a College of Education and four Arts and Science Colleges under the Pondicherry Society for Higher Education (PONSHE), colleges Pondicherry Institute of Post Matric Technical Education (PIPMATE) and the Pondicherry Engineering College. Funds to the tune of ₹ 59 crore had been released as Block Sanction from August to March. The Minister said that Cauvery water was not available on time in Karaikal region because of the damage to the regulator at Mukkombu. The situation had improved and water was available in five or six days.
As many as 6,000 hectares of land would be taken up for cultivation normally. Now there would be a slight fall because of the delay in getting the Cauvery water from Tamil Nadu, he said.
Mr. Kamalakannan said that the attendance of students would be tracked by the college and if a student was found absent it would be noted and informed to parents. The Education Department would keep track of teachers he said and added that the mentor system would improve attendance of students in colleges.
