Two months' salaries unpaid, employees of Kalamandalam in crisis

THRISSUR: The employees of Kalamandalam are in crisis as the January-February salary has been put on hold due to lack of government grant. Though there were delays in salary distribution before, salary arrears of months is a first-time occurrence. Employees had held a rights day months ago to seek a solution.

Rs 6 crores are needed to pay January-March salary and salary revision arrears from March 2019. In December, the government was requested to transfer this amount from Kalamandalam's plan fund, but permission was not given.

Rs 1.7 crore is needed for January and February salaries. October's salary was paid on November 15. There was a delay in November and December.

With Mallika Sarabhai taking over as chancellor, there was a hope that the problem would be resolved but the reality was different. In the discussion held in January, the employees had raised the salary issue. While it is a relief that artists can share half of the remuneration from outside events, other employees are not able to pay bank loans etc.

Employees increased, but grants did not

In 2007, as Kalamandalam became a deemed university, the staff, including in the UGC department, increased. Earlier, the number of teaching and non-teaching staff was 111 and 259 in 14 categories including UGC and contract. The annual grant (7.6 crores) was not increased even though the salary expenses etc. increased. The government's assessment is that there is an excess of employees. There are allegations that many contract appointments are done through the back door. It is also known in the audit report that seven instructors were appointed in the undergraduate department in 2019-21 without the permission of the government. The Joint Director of Audit has written to the Cultural Affairs Department to look into this.