Apprehensions now rule the roost at Birsa Agricultural University (BAU) campus after Governor Syed Ahmed ordered a “freeze” on the powers of vice chancellor MP Pandey and putting Divisional Commissioner KK Khandelwal at the helms following a litany of charges leveled against him (Pandey).
Although routine works are being done in a usual way, there is a sense of anxiety among the higher officials as they will have to face an IAS officer.
“We are shocked as such things never happened here in history of the University and there is a sense of apprehension among the staff after a non-teaching outsider has been roped in,” said an administrative staff of the University requesting anonymity.
The BAU employees, however, are also expecting some positive moves by the VC-in-charge, who may help them getting their dues pending for the last eight years. “There is also a sense of optimism, that being an IAS officer, he may take the University on track which has been facing anarchy for the last so many years,” he said.
The staffs are also dissatisfied with the administration that they have to face hardships due to irregular payments and sluggish attitude towards the payment of their long awaited dues.
“We have not been paid our arrears, since the sixth pay commission was implemented here in the year 2011 nor, we have been paid salaries for the last three months,” said a non-teaching staff.
Similarly, there is an acute crisis of both teaching and non teaching staff in the University where no appointments have been done in the last several years.
“The seriousness of the situation could be gauged from the fact that there are only 22 professors in Ranchi Veterinary College against the sanctioned post of over 100 posts,” said another staff of Veterinary College. Moreover, the colleges in Garhwa and Godda are almost complete but they could not be made functional until fresh appointments’ are done, he said.
They also alleged that Pandey did not maintain coordination with both the teaching and non teaching staff in the University due to which they were not very happy with him.
Pandey, slated to retire this September after he turns 68, was working as the VC of BAU since 2011 and formerly head of reputable institutions under Indian Council of Agricultural Research such as Indira Gandhi Agriculture University (Raipur, Chhattisgarh) and Central Rice Research Institute (Cuttack, Odisha).
Khandelwal on the other hand, taking swift actions has started the process of appointment of teaching and non teaching staff of the University.
“Although, the list of vacancies is being sent to the JPSC to fill up the vacant posts my priority will be to bring more and more benefits to the farmers’ door steps which will be taken soon after taking advice from the technical experts in the University,” Kandelwal said.
More than 80 per cent of teaching staff vacancies at BAU, including registrar, assistant registrar, deans, director and assistant director of administration, among others, have been continuing for the past three-and-a-half years.