Govt releases Rs 90 crore for disbursement of salary, pension in universities

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The distribution of the stalled salaries and pensions resumed in universities on Thursday. The salaries of employees were delayed for a long after the government diverted the grant allowed for other purposes. Finally, it was a saving grace as the department made Rs 90 crore available to the universities on Wednesday.

Salary distribution has also started in government and aided colleges along with the Fellowship for research students. The salaries and pensions pending in universities are paid using the grant provided, while the government will directly provide payment to government undertaking and aided colleges. This long delay in salaries and pensions is considered asthe first in history.

For the past two years, salaries and pensions have been paid through the treasury in universities excluding CUSAT. The plan and non-plan expenditures of the university were transferred to the treasury from last year. However, this was utilized by the government for other purposes. Rs 500 crore allocated by Kerala University during the previous UDF government for the pension fund was also transferred to the treasury last year.