Rising Anger in TMBU Over Guest Faculty Honorariums and Pending Dues; Association Raises Voice Across University Departments and Constituent Colleges, Accuses Administration of Procrastination
Bhagalpur, Senior Correspondent: Anger among teachers has once again erupted openly within the premises of Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University (TMBU), a prestigious institution in the Silk City. A key meeting was organized under the banner of the Guest Faculty Association, involving various constituent colleges and postgraduate departments under the university, where a strong voice was raised against the administrative style of the university management. Guest faculty members leveled serious and sharp allegations against the management regarding their long-delayed honorarium payments. The educators stated that not receiving their honorariums for months has pushed them to the brink of starvation and severe financial distress, while the university administration is merely limiting itself to hollow assurances.
What Is the Complete Matter? Why Are Guest Teachers Outraged?
According to reports, the financial condition of guest faculty members managing teaching assignments across various colleges and departments operated under TMBU is steadily worsening:
Honorariums Pending for Months: The primary grievance of the guest teachers is that they have not received the honorarium owed to them for their teaching services over the past several months. In this era of inflation and during the festive season, the absence of salaries or honorariums has made running their households exceedingly difficult.
Excuses of Budgets and Red Tape: The teachers allege that whenever they approach the university's finance department or concerned administrative officials regarding their pending payments, they are perpetually brushed off with standard excuses of budget shortages or pending files. Despite repeated assurances, no concrete disbursement process has materialized on the ground.
Aggressive Strategy Formulated in the Association's Meeting
Dozens of guest teachers from various university departments and remote colleges attended the recently held meeting:
Announcement of a Decisive Battle: During the meeting, speakers unanimously stated in clear terms that if the university administration fails to clear their pending honorarium payments at the earliest, they will be compelled to completely boycott academic activities.
Memorandum and Ultimatum: Association representatives decided to submit a final memorandum to the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar regarding this matter, demanding the fixation of a strict and definite deadline for disbursements.
Crucial Role of Guest Teachers as the Backbone of the Academic System
Academicians and experts note that regular teachers are in massive shortage across most TMBU colleges and departments:
Classes Being Operated: Presently, the entire academic framework of the university and its constituent colleges rests heavily on the shoulders of these guest teachers. Despite a severe lack of regular appointments, these educators are dutifully and honestly operating undergraduate and postgraduate classes.
Serious Allegations of Exploitation: Teachers point out that while the university administration extracts full academic work and examination-related duties from them akin to regular faculty, step-motherly and indifferent treatment is meted out when it comes to compensation, which is entirely unjust.
University Administration's Reaction and Assurances
As the matter gained momentum and the teachers' stance hardened, the university administration swung into action:
Claims of Prompt Disbursement: TMBU administrative officials stated that the file concerning the honorarium payments of guest teachers is under process and being expedited. As soon as funds are received from government grants and internal university sources, the pending amounts will be transferred via RTGS into the accounts of all eligible teachers.
Appeal to Maintain Restraint: Senior university officials appealed to the teachers to exercise patience and restraint, assuring them that their issues are being resolved on a top-priority basis.
Conclusion
This step taken by guest teachers in Bhagalpur's TMBU regarding honorarium payments raises a massive question mark over the university's administrative system and sluggish functioning style. If the administration fails to find a permanent solution to this grave issue in a timely manner, academic activities within the university could come to a complete standstill in the days ahead, the heaviest toll of which will directly impact the futures of the students.
