From Sanjiv Dube
NEW DELHI : The G. K. Chadha pay review committee
has suggested a salary hike ranging between 70 per cent and 85 per
cent for over five lakh university and college teachers in the
country.
If the pay hike recommendations are accepted by the
government, a faculty fresher with a Ph.D will get a take-home package
of about Rs 40,000 instead of the present Rs 22,000. The salary will
be Rs 6,000 more than what an IAS beginner would get under the Sixth
Pay Commission implementation scheme.
The UGC appointed committee headed by Prof G K Chadha
submitted its report to UGC Chairman Prof S.K. Thorat on October 3.
“We have introduced new features like academic
allowances, speedy increments and promotions, designation of professor
in colleges offering postgraduate courses and seed money to colleges
for research grants to attract and retain young talents,” Prof Chadha,
who is also a member of the Prime Minister’s economic advisory
council, told reporters.
"The recommendations will make teaching more attractive
and would bring in youngsters who are opting for greener pastures,"
Chadha said after submitting the report to the UGC chief.
The recommendations, submitted to the UGC will be
considered by the Commission on October 7 and 8 and then sent to the
Human Resource Development Ministry on October 9. All recommendations
should be implemented in toto as a package with effect from January 1
2006, Prof Chadha added.
The panel has suggested that the Centre give 100 per
cent assistance to states for the first five years.
According to the recommendation of the committee, the
superannuation age of all college and university teachers will be 65
years. However, teachers might be re-employed selectively after superannuation on contract basis up to
the age of 70.
The teachers should
be eligible for full pension after 20 years of service. The revised
pension to the family of the deceased employee -- a minimum of Rs
3,500 per month and a maximum of 30 per cent -- of the highest pay in the Central
government should be extended to teachers as well. The committee
recommended replacing the post of “lecturer” with that of “assistant
professor”. The existing pay scale for this post is Rs 8,000-275-13,500, and the new pay scale would be Rs 15,600-39,100 with
a grade of Rs 6,600.
“Another additional new post is that of professor of
eminence. This title may be conferred on not more than 10 per cent of
the total strength of professors in a university. This position will be bestowed on someone who has acquired
national and international stature. The criteria for choosing them
will be tough. In terms of pay package, professors of eminence and vice-chancellors will be at
par (Rs. 80,000),” said H.C. Narang, a panel member.
The panel recommended that lecturers be called assistant
professors and be fixed in a pay scale of Rs 15,600-39,100 and pay
grade of Rs 6,600. Assistant professors (senior scale) who come next
will get the same scale and grade of Rs 7,200; followed by assistant
professors (selection grade) and associate professors with the same
scale and grade of Rs 8,000.
Professors should be fixed in the Rs 37,40067,000 pay
scale. It has suggested the creation of senior professors with the
same pay scale.
In the case of college teachers, the panel has suggested
pay scale similar to those for universities. It has suggested a scale
of Rs 37,400-67,000 and two advance increments for the principals of undergraduate and postgraduate
colleges.
The panel has suggested that the retirement age of
teachers be increased to 65 years.
A comparative study of the pay scales of IAS officers
and the faculty shows a considerable edge for the teachers. The report
recommends a fixed scale of Rs 80,000 for a vice-chancellor, same as that of a Secretary to the Government
of India. A professor's salary will match that of an additional
secretary. The committee, for the first time, has proposed a new system to share the salary. In place of
80:20 split between the Centre and states for first five years of
implementation, the committee wants the Union Government to foot the entire bill for five years and
based on states' performance, provide incentives for next five. An
annual increment of three per cent of basic salary and a per cent more for entry-level teachers,
based on performance is on the cards as well.
The panel has recommended two years’ childcare leave for
women. For the first time, it has proposed 15 days’ paternity leave
for childcare. The panel has also recommended a regular administrative structure encouraging faculty
members to offer consultancy services to private firms alongside their
teaching duties. The panel has suggested that in cases where the consultancy fees earned is less
than 30 per cent of the gross salary, the teacher be allowed to keep
the entire amount.
Details of Chadha
recommendations
