Gauhati University

Guwahati, July 31: Dispur has agreed to increase the retirement age of teachers of the state’s universities to 65 in line with central universities.

Sources said education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had already asked Gauhati University and Dibrugarh University for their list of teachers. The current retirement age of university teachers is 60.

“During a recent meeting with the representatives of Gauhati University Teachers’ Association, the education minister had assured them that the government would take all possible measures to ensure that teachers of state universities receive all the benefits at par with their counterparts in central universities. The University Grants Commission has already increased the retirement age of central university teachers to 65 and the state government has planned to do the same,” the source said.

At present, teachers of state universities retire at 60 and get re-employment for five years on various terms and conditions.

Teachers of Gauhati University, during the time of re-employment, receive salaries equivalent to the last salary they drew at the time of retirement. They, however, don’t get any other benefit or increment during this period.

The situation is almost similar in Dibrugarh University, except that the teachers get the benefits of dearness allowance in case the government effect a DA hike.

“This has proved to be frustrating for senior teachers of both the universities and many of them decline to accept the re-employment offer after retiring at 60. The government has kept the re-employment scheme in view of the huge number of vacant posts in both the universities,” the source said.

A retired Gauhati University teacher, who is on re-employment, said he had already served four years without getting any hike or increment. He said there was no incentive for retired teachers.

“I am teaching full-time at the university. However, I see many of my junior colleagues drawing more salary than me. Several private universities have approached me with much higher salary package than what I am receiving here. I am a little frustrated now,” the teacher said.

Sources said once the government increases the retirement age to 65, the teachers would receive all the benefits and even get a salary hike.

“The government might take a formal decision on the matter to be effective from the current financial year,” an Assam government official said.

The president of Gauhati University Teachers’ Association, Hari Prasad Sarma, said the association has convened a general body meeting tomorrow to discuss the issue. A meeting with the education minister a few days ago had been very positive and fruitful, he added.

“The education minister assured us that the superannuation age of teachers of the university would be increased to 65. We are very happy and hope the government will stick to its words. Tomorrow’s meeting will discuss how the university should proceed on the issue,” he added.