THRISSUR: Employees of Agricultural and Veterinary Universities and the Deemed University of Kalamandalam may not get their salary before Vishu. The main reason is that the government, which is facing a financial crisis, has canceled the grant that was supposed to be paid by March 31. The chances of getting it are also running low. The government has proposed to take the salary amount from the grant for the new financial year. It will take days to complete this process. It is indicated that the situation is similar in other institutions including Fisheries University.

The Agricultural and Veterinary Universities have more than 3,500 employees and there are 259 people in Kalamandalam. 151.33 crores is due to University of Agriculture in the form of pension, grant and salary revision arrears. The veterinary university received only 70 percent of the allotted grant. In the context of the suspension of the grant, a special amount of 1.62 crores was allocated for the salaries of January and February to Kalamandalam.

Stalled government grants

University of Agriculture.......39.17 crores

Kalamandalam...................................1.9 crores

Veterinary...................................................2.4 crores

Bal Bhavan is also in crisis

Jawahar Bal Bhavan, which teaches children dance, music, painting, etc., is also in crisis. There are five grant-run Bal Bhavans in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Kottayam and Thrissur. Out of this, the salaries have been stalled everywhere except in Thiruvananthapuram and Kottayam. For Kollam it was stalled for eleven months, in Thrissur for seven months and in Alappuzha for four months.

Should generate own income

Increasing revenue is the solution to the crisis in addition to grants. Livestock fodder and dairy products can be sold in veterinary and seed and agricultural products can be sold in agricultural university to earn income. The government directive to Bal Bhavans is to find 20 percent of the salary by running children's camps etc.