KOZHIKODE: Polytechnic institutions across the state are on the verge of losing their All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) approval with their technical staff are not being paid as per the AICTE norms. Last year, while applying for the approval, principals of several polytechnic institutaions had filed affidavits saying that the staff were paid as per the norms, though that was not the case. However, they are not ready to lie again in the declaration this time.The AICTE strictly demands that any polytechnic institution applying for approval should pay its staff as per its norms. Since last year, polytechnics have to apply for the extension of approval every year and file numerous affidavits and one of them is a declaration that the staff are paid as per norms.The Government Polytechnic Technical Staff Association (GPTSA) said that last year, principals of various institutions had filed affidavits wrongly stating that the pay revision was effective in the state. But with polytechnics having to seek renewal of AICTE approval again now, in December, principals of various institutions were saying that they would not do the same for the second consecutive year.“Last year we did it because we took the future of students into account. And the then government also told us that the pay revisions would be implemented later that year. But they did not fulfil the promises made to us. So this year we will not lie on affidavit again,” said the principal of a polytechnic institution who did not wish to be named.GPTSA North Zone Secretary Ramesh Kumar P confirmed that they had been assured that such an affidavit would not be filed this year. “Representatives of the Polytechnic principals have told us that they would not be lying on the affidavit again this year, but if they were to go back on their word, we would organise strong protests,” he said. He added that the only way forward was for the government to implement the pay revision. In 2000, the Nayanar Government had passed an order stating that Polytechnic teachers were to be paid as per AICTE norms but the order had not been carried out,” GPTSA representatives said. They also alleged that the state government had taken out a loan from the World Bank in 1992 worth crores for the renovation of polytechnics stating that they would implement the pay revision. Director of Technical Education J Latha said that the pay revision was on the agenda of the government this year. “We will once again ask the principals to sign the affidavit regarding the pay revision as we are confident of implementing it this year itself,” she said.
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