MP Govt. seeks Rs 484 cr from UGC for raise to teachers

Government college and university teachers in Madhya Pradesh are all set to get the long overdue UGC pay scales. In order to foot the bill incurred on the increased pay scales of these teachers, the state government has demanded Rs 484 crore from the University Grants Commission (UGC).

In this context, the state government has already issued orders for payment of UGC scale to government college teachers.  As for university teachers, the orders have yet to come by. 
Higher Education Department of the State Government has sent a letter to the UGC putting the entire budget for raising the pay scales at for Rs 406 crore while another 76 crore has been asked for university teachers. 
 
As per the rule, 80 per cent of the expenses for five years are paid by the UGC for providing UGC pay scale to government college and university teachers. The state government has to bear the remaining 20 per cent burden of the total amount.  
In its reply to the court on Wednesday, the state government has shown its intent to offer UGC pay scales to the teachers. 
 
Earlier, teachers of the state had held a protest rally that drew chief minister Shivraj Chouhan’s attention towards a discrepancy in the demand letter sent to the UGC. They said while the actual requirement is of Rs 1700 crore, only Rs 484 crore was demanded.