First time in history; mass layoffs in Kerala Kalamandalam, VC issues order dismissing 120 employees

THRISSUR: Mass layoffs have taken place in Kerala Kalamandalam following the financial crisis. All the temporary employees of Kalamandalam have been dismissed. Around 120 temporary employees, ranging from teachers to security personnel, have been laid off citing financial crunch.

The Kerala Kalamandalam Vice-Chancellor issued a termination order stating that no employees will have to come to work from December 1. This is the first instance of temporary employees being laid off in the middle of an academic year. This is the first time in the history of Kalamandalam that employees have been laid off due to a financial crisis.

Temporary teaching and non-teaching staff were appointed for the smooth running of Kerala Kalamandalam deemed-to-be-University as the vacancies of staff in various posts in the Kalamandalam were not filled up. However, the explanation is that the action was taken due to the nonreceipt of the required amount from the non-plan allocation.

All those who teach in classes 1 to plus two are temporary teachers. With their dismissal, the functioning of Kalamandalam itself will be disrupted. An amount of Rs 80 lakh per month is needed for the various needs of Kalamandalam. However, the culture department is giving only Rs 40 lakh.