Madurai Kamaraj University seeks grants for college struggling to pay salaries amid ₹2 crore annual deficit

Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU) has submitted a proposal to Tamil Nadu’s Higher Education Department seeking financial support for its college in Tallakulam, as mounting budgetary constraints have affected salary payments and prompted demands for government funding or conversion into a government institution.

The college, which depends entirely on student fees and receives no financial assistance from either the state government or the university, has struggled to cover its recurring costs. September salaries were paid on Oct 1 after employees protested over the delay.

The institution has around 3,407 undergraduate and postgraduate students and employs approximately 150 teaching and non-teaching staff. Only 19 faculty members hold permanent positions, while most of the teaching staff work as guest lecturers.

MKU College Principal-in-charge B George said the college needs approximately ₹13 crore annually to run its operations. It can collect around ₹11 crore if all students pay their fees without outstanding dues, leaving an estimated annual shortfall of ₹2 crore.

“Of the monthly expenditure, around Rs 92 lakh is required for salaries and pensions, while another Rs 3 lakh is needed for maintenance expenses, including electricity and water charges. Every month, we obtain permission from the university authorities and meet the deficit by temporarily using employees’ CPS and PF funds,” he said.

George said the university had recently forwarded a proposal to the Higher Education Department seeking either government-college status for the institution or financial assistance to cover its operating expenses.

The demand to bring MKU College under government administration has been pending for years, according to P Murugesan, a member of the university’s Academic Council.

Established in 1994, the college has continued to operate without regular financial support despite repeated calls for a change in its status.

“Former AIADMK Higher Education Minister KP Anbalagan had announced the conversion of the college in the Assembly in 2021. However, the government could not issue a G.O. as the Assembly election schedule was announced soon after the announcement,” Murugesan recalled.

MUTA General Secretary AT Senthamaraikannan urged the state government to extend grants to MKU College on the lines of other government-supported institutions.

He said financial assistance was necessary to safeguard guest lecturers’ employment and ensure that academic activities continued without disruption.

North MLA A Kallanai said the government was taking steps to convert MKU College into a government institution. Higher Education Minister P Viswanathan is expected to visit the college soon, after which the conversion process would be initiated.