Despite the DMK government’s claims of efficient financial management, it is now struggling under the weight of its deception, as it has even failed to pay the salaries of university professors. Last week, around 100 faculty members from various departments at Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU) protested at the main building’s portico, demanding the release of their salaries for July and August.
The faculty members informed the media that they had not been paid for the past two months. “To address this issue without disrupting regular classes, we have decided to start this protest to draw the government’s attention,” they stated.
Some faculty members plan to remain in their departments until 10 p.m. to further highlight the issue. If necessary, they may escalate their protest with hunger strikes and other methods.
The Kamaraj University has been struggling with severe financial difficulties for several years. According to a senior professor, MKU requires approximately ₹2.50 crore monthly to pay salaries for its 140 staff members. Additionally, ₹5.90 crore is needed to cover pensions for 1,100 retirees. However, the university’s monthly revenue from student fees and other sources is only between ₹2 crore and ₹2.50 crore.
Prof. S. Murugesan emphasized that the government should address over 3,000 audit objections to help stabilize the university’s finances. He stressed the importance of preserving the institution’s esteemed legacy and hoped for urgent intervention from the Higher Education Department to ensure its survival.
Another faculty member suggested that the State government not only release funds to address the university’s financial issues but also establish a corpus to pay pensioners. Many vacant positions due to retirements need to be filled.
The university administration had submitted a comprehensive financial proposal to the government a few months ago, which needs to be reviewed and implemented promptly.
Last year, the government provided ₹58.5 crore from its block grants to cover salaries. Vice-Chancellor J. Kumar had resigned a few months ago for personal reasons, and a convenors’ committee has been managing the V-C’s duties since then. Faculty members expressed that the university’s reputation is at stake and stressed the urgent need to protect it.
(With Inputs From The Hindu)
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