University of Madras Staff’s Plea for Financial Support

Amidst financial turmoil, staff of the University of Madras stage a daylong fast, demanding the State government to provide essential grants to the institution. The freeze of bank accounts and fixed deposits by the Income Tax Department, owing to ₹424 crore in arrears, exacerbates the university’s financial woes. Despite consistent denials of regular grants by the State government for seven years, citing audit objections, the university grapples with salary payments and pension disbursements.

With ₹90 crore outstanding in grants against a mere ₹6 crore audit objection, staff emphasize the Higher Education Department’s role in resolving financial discrepancies. Concerns over delayed salaries, pension benefits, and examination-related expenses heighten, threatening to impact student outcomes and future prospects. The university’s prestigious A++ status contrasts starkly with its operational challenges, exacerbated by a significant percentage of vacant faculty and non-teaching staff positions. Efforts to negotiate with the I-T Department underscore the institution’s determination to navigate its financial predicament.