Private universities have been under scrutiny for not implementing UGC guidelines on the payment of salaries and other facilities in the state. The issue came to the forefront after the faculty members of Himalayan University informed the Arunachal Pradesh Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Commission (APPEIRC) about the seriousness of the case. The faculty members alleged that the university administration discriminates in the payment of salaries based on the race of the faculty member.
Furthermore, they alleged that employees, irrespective of being tribal or non-tribal, who earn PhD degrees from Rajiv Gandhi University, a central university in Rono Hills, are paid lower salaries than non-APST employees who have degrees from mainland India. They also highlighted discrimination in housing and travel allowances, as well as the provident fund, to the regulatory commission.
The commission has reportedly asked the university to investigate the allegations. The commission should be empowered to investigate and recommend concrete solutions for implementation across private colleges. Not paying salaries on time and not paying equal salaries are clear cases of discrimination and should be dealt with strictly by the authorities. Universities should be made to pay penalties and compensate for not following the guidelines in the payment of salaries.