UGC pay hike gets govt nod

In an election-year bonanza to more than five lakh teachers in colleges and universities, the Centre has approved a proposal for a 70 per cent salary hike, making teaching at certain levels more attractive than civil service.
The Union Cabinet has approved the recommendations of the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) pay review committee for teachers headed by Professor G K Chadha.While the revision of pay will be effective from January 1, 2006, the disbursement of allowances (except DA) and advance increments will be effective from September 1, 2008.In place of “grade pay” as applicable to Central government employees, the term “academic grade pay” (AGP) should be used for teachers and those with equivalent positions. Different grade pays of Rs 6,000, Rs 7,000, Rs 8,000, Rs 9,000, Rs 10,000 and Rs 12,000 have been approved as AGP for teachers and equivalent positions.Higher AGP of Rs 6,000 has been recommended for all assistant professors at the entry level so as to make it more attractive compared with the entry level grade pay for the civil servants and other professionals under the 6th Central Pay Commission.
Announcing the government decision on Tuesday in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Human Resource Development D Purandeswari said the ministry’s proposals on pay revision of teachers for UGC-approved colleges and universities had been okayed by the Cabinet.Review committee“As a sequel to the 6th Central Pay Commission, the UGC had constituted a pay review committee for recommending, among other things, the ways and means of attracting and retaining talented persons in the teaching profession and furtherance of research in the university system,” Purandeswari said.The committee submitted its report in October last and the UGC furnished its recommendations within a few days. An empowered committee was constituted on October 10 and based on its recommendations, the proposals formulated by the ministry were considered by a committee of secretaries in its meeting held on December 5.In addition to a 70 per cent hike in pay, the UGC panel has recommended additional allowances and new positions to academics in the higher education sector.