Festive relief for college staff as Haryana clears Rs 69 crore pending salaries

Bringing much-needed relief to thousands of employees, the state government has released a grant-in-aid of over Rs 69.81 crore for the disbursement of salaries to more than 2,450 teaching and non-teaching staff working in 95 government-aided degree colleges across the state. The funds will cover salaries pending for July and August, a delay that had caused severe financial strain for employees, especially during the festive season.

The two-month delay had sparked widespread resentment among staff, many of whom struggled to manage household expenses and were compelled to borrow money. With the funds finally reaching colleges, employees expressed relief but urged the Department of Higher Education to put in place a system that ensures regular and timely salary disbursements.

The frustration had been building for weeks, with aided college staff staging district-level demonstrations demanding immediate action. Under the existing structure, 95 per cent of the salary expenditure is borne by the state government, while the remaining five per cent is covered by the governing bodies of the respective colleges.

Confirming the development, Dayanand Malik, president of the Haryana Government Aided College Teachers’ Association, said, “The government has transferred Rs 69.81 crore, its 95 per cent share, to the concerned colleges, resolving the crisis for now. But the delay caused immense resentment, with many employees left with no choice but to borrow money. Such lapses cannot be repeated.”

Malik criticised the delay, pointing out that the salary budget had already been approved during the last Vidhan Sabha session, including allocations for pay scales, gratuity and leave encashment. “Most employees are entirely dependent on their monthly salaries. This is not the first time such delays have occurred. The government must create a reliable mechanism to guarantee timely payments,” he said, adding that the department has now assured staff of punctual disbursals in the future.

Highlighting long-standing concerns, Malik also drew attention to the denial of gratuity benefits for principals, teachers and non-teaching staff appointed after January 1, 2006. He recalled that even during the Covid-19 pandemic, when six teachers lost their lives, their families were not given gratuity benefits — unlike employees appointed before 2006, who continue to receive it under the Gratuity Act, 1972. Employees have also been awaiting a revision of House Rent Allowance (HRA) in line with the 7th Pay Commission.

Meanwhile, S Narayanan, Director General, Higher Education, attributed the recent delay to a technical issue within the Finance Department, which has now been resolved.