Staff strike, say Telangana government has neglected Osmania University

Hyderabad: Teaching and non-teaching employees of the Osmania University went on a strike over the government neglecting the varsity.

The 2015-16 financial year ended without the government releasing Rs 57 crore of the Rs 238 crore allocated to the university. This resulted in many university employees getting part payment of their salaries and retired personnel not getting their pensions.

Prof Battu Satyanarayana, president of OU Teachers Association said, “The university managed to pay net salaries and couldn’t pay gross salaries to its employees out of its own funds without the government releasing the remaining Rs 57 crore meant for salaries.”

He said that the university also stopped payment of gratuity and terminal benefits since February 2016.

Prof. Satyanarayana said, “The university’s budget for financial year 2016-2017 shows a deficit of about Rs 67 crore. As it managed to pay salaries of around Rs 57 crore out of its own coffers which are rapidly drying up, the total deficit has increased to a whopping Rs 124 crore. We will go on an indefinite strike and boycott all duties except teaching if the government does not release the due amount."