Kolkata: In a move aimed at addressing long-pending concerns over pay structures in the education sector, the Bengal govt has brought non-teaching employees of 25 state-aided universities and permanent employees of three major education boards under the purview of the 7th Pay Commission.The finance department’s audit branch issued a resolution on Thursday, directing the commission to examine the existing pay structures and service conditions of employees of these institutions and submit its recommendations as expeditiously as possible.The exercise will cover non-teaching employees of 25 state-aided universities, along with permanent employees of the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education, West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education and West Bengal Board of Madrasa Education.The latest decision follows the state govt’s announcement on July 22 to constitute the 7th Pay Commission for state govt employees and certain other categories of workers.Among the 25 universities brought under the commission are Calcutta University, Jadavpur University, Burdwan University, Kalyani University, North Bengal University, Rabindra Bharati University, Netaji Subhas Open University, Presidency University, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology, West Bengal State University, Sidho-Kanho-Birsha University, Babasaheb Ambedkar Education University, West Bengal University of Health Sciences, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences and Aliah University, among others.In a separate resolution, the state govt also brought 14 development authorities and the West Bengal State Council of Vocational Education and Skill Development under the purview of the 7th Pay Commission. The West Bengal Minorities Development and Finance Corporation, Waqf Tribunal, West Bengal State Food Processing and Horticulture Development Corporation and West Bengal Tribal Development Cooperative Corporation have also been included.However, three organisations — the West Bengal Board of Madrasa Education, West Bengal Technical Education Council and West Bengal Vocational Education Council — have been excluded from the exercise.Manoj Chakraborty, chief adviser of the Vocational Teachers, Instructors and Employees Association, welcomed the inclusion of vocational teachers. “They have a very low monthly salary and they hardly get any increment. The Pay Commission may recommend a pay scale for them,” he added.
