Guwahati: Gauhati University is facing a severe financial crisis, with an estimated annual deficit of nearly Rs 80 crore, prompting the administration to consider drastic cost-cutting measures, including a proposal to reduce pension payments to retired employees by 50 per cent.
The proposal, discussed at a recent meeting of the university’s Executive Council, has sparked concern among retired staff and employees, who fear that the move could significantly affect their livelihoods.
According to officials, the university’s financial troubles have been mounting over the years as expenditure on salaries, pensions and day-to-day operations has steadily increased, while government funding and internal revenue have failed to keep pace. The growing mismatch has left the institution struggling to meet its financial commitments.
Sources said the university is exploring multiple options to bridge the widening deficit, with the proposed reduction in pension payments emerging as one of the measures under consideration. However, no final decision has been taken, and the proposal is yet to receive formal approval.
The issue has drawn criticism from pensioners, many of whom argue that retirees should not be made to bear the burden of the university’s financial mismanagement. Employee representatives have also called for alternative solutions, urging the state government to step in with financial assistance instead of reducing pension benefits.
The financial crunch comes despite Gauhati University’s status as one of the premier higher educational institutions in the Northeast. Established in 1948, the university affiliates hundreds of colleges across Assam and has expanded its academic programmes and infrastructure over the years.
With the institution now facing an unprecedented fiscal challenge, all eyes are on the university administration and the Assam government to find a sustainable solution that addresses the financial crisis without compromising the welfare of retired employees.