Pending increments for college professors to be released

The state Higher Education department has decided to offer pending increments to college professors, who are holding MPhil and PhD degrees.

State Education minister Partha Chatterjee has instructed the department to clear the dues from September 2008, which will soon be released. Around 12,000 teachers of state-run and state-aided colleges will benefit from this decision.

Releasing the pending increments to college professors was on the election agenda of Trinamool Congress and the government has taken steps fulfil the promise.

A source in the Education department confirmed that the money had been pending since September 2008. At least 12 per cent pending increment, in accordance with the Sixth Pay Commission, will be given out.

The professors who had completed their PhD or equivalent degree before getting the job will get five increments. The professors who completed the aforementioned degrees during the course of their job will get three increments.

In a similar way, professors who had completed MPhil before getting the job will get two increments. However, if the degree was completed during their employment, the professor would get only one increment.

Same rules will be applicable to D.Litt and M.Litt candidates. Librarians and assistant librarians will get compound increments. However, those who had joined their job between 2006 and 2008 will only get these increments. The Education department has taken initiatives to introduce medical insurance to lecturers. College lecturers and part-time professors will get medical insurance facilities from the state government.

The state government had planned to introduce a new term instead of ‘lecturers’, as it is considered derogatory to their abilities. Legal consultation is ongoing in this regard.