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Professors and employees of Visva Bharati in Shantiniketan \u2013 the only central university in West Bengal \u2013 have not yet received their salaries for the month of June, allegedly due to a Covid-19 scare.<\/p>\n
The university authorities issued a notice on July 7, saying that salaries would be released after the central administrative building reopens. The building was shut down for sanitization towards the end of June.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am directed to inform you that as soon as the central administrative building is sanitized, normal activities including the release of salary shall immediately be undertaken,\u201d said the notice signed by Asha Mukherjee, acting registrar of Visva Bharati.<\/p>\n
The university issued the notice only after Sudipta Bhattacharyya; president of the Visva Bharati University Faculty Association lodged a RTI on July 5 over the delay in salary for the month of June.<\/p>\n
Two heads of two separate departments, however, said that the administrative building had to be shut down in June-end after two employees in the accounts department were detected with fever.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know whether they tested positive for Covid-19 but the building was shut down around June 29 as a precautionary measure. We were told that it would open after a few days, around two weeks from June 29 and after proper santisation,\u201d said one of the assistant professors, on conditions of anonymity.<\/p>\n
The university authorities, however, remained tightlipped on the letter issued on July 7. While acting registrar Asha Mukherjee said she was not authorized to speak to the media and only the spokesperson would speak, the spokesperson of Visva Bharati didn\u2019t respond to multiple calls and messages throughout the day.<\/p>\n
Usually employees receive their salaries and pension by the end of every month. There are more than 3,500 people who receive salaries and pension including employees, faculties, security personnel and pensioners among others<\/p>\n
\u201cBut this time we haven\u2019t received our salary. We have not been told either as to when we will receive it. We were just told that we will get our salaries after the central administrative building reopens after proper sanitization,\u201d said another assistant professor.<\/p>\n
In February, the university authorities had issued a notice that salary could be delayed due to paucity of funds. Later, the union human resource development (HRD) ministry sought an explanation from the management.<\/p>\n
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