Shaurya Sharma
Fatehgarh Sahib. May.21, 2020: A tussle has erupted between the Vice Chancellor and the Non teaching staff of Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University Fatehgarh Sahib over the reopening of the University amid COVID-19 threats. The VC has issued a directive to employees to report on duty on rotation basis from 19th May from 9AM to 3PM, while the non teaching staffs have their own reservations.
Rajpal Singh President Non Teaching welfare Association in an e-mail to the University authorities has written that though the university has decided to start working but unfortunately no preventive measures have been taken to prevent the spread of COVID. Moreover their salaries from the last 4 months January onwards have not been paid and the financial resources of the employees have depleted during lock down. It has become very difficult to meet both ends and without money how the employees can survive this epidemic. He said besides this the university has not been properly sanitised, masks, gloves has not been provided. They apprehended that in case any mishap occurred to any of their employee who will pay for the expenses occurred and in case of death, who will compensate the loss as there is no medical insurance policy. They are in no mood to start coming to University till their genuine demands are met.
When contacted Dr. Pritpal Singh VC he said that the paying of salaries is under active consideration of the management. The university has not received the amount of SC scholarship from Government moreover the SGPC is also facing financial crunch because of pandemic. So for other demands are concerned they are lame excuse as other universities have also started working with staff on rotational basis. He said no need for sanitising University as no COVID patient was admitted in university.