Absence of permanent VC and red tape led to salary crisis at Kalamandalam

THRISSUR: Without a permanent Vice Chancellor and red tape, the state government’s grant of Rs.1.9 crores got delayed. Because of this, 259 teachers and non-teaching staff at Kalamandalam are waiting for their November salary. They got their October salary only on 15th November.

The staff are saying that this is the first time that their salary is being delayed this much. Those who took loans are finding it hard to give payments on time. The request to get the new installment of the grant, it is not clear when the Cultural Department will give it. Without a permanent VC, it is difficult to pressurize or do the follow ups in these issues.

As the tenure of Dr. TK Narayanan got over, the Kalady University VC, Dr. MV Narayanan is given the extra responsibility of Kalamandalam University for seven months now.

For a financial year the grant is Rs.7.6 crores. It is received in four installments with Rs.1.9 crores each. These installments usually got delayed but never has there been an uncertainty like this. During Covid the revenue from outside venues, including from Kathakali got stopped. This increased the financial strain. Half of this revenue was for Kalamandalam and the rest was given to the artists.

As classes were online during Covid a small number of employees were required. The money from the grant was sufficient to pay the salaries and other day-to-day expenses.

After Covid when classes became off line, more employees had to be recruited.

In 2007, when Kalamandalam became a deemed university, the number of employees in the UGC section increased. But the grant was not raised. Before being an university the posts of teachers and non-teaching staff was 111. Now there are 259 employees including UGC and contract.

As the grant is not sufficient, the dues since 2019 including revised salary is not given. The UGC salary revision six months ago is also not implemented.