Panel for pay parity for Sanskrit teachers, says HRD Ministry- appointed committee

NEW DELHI: Special grants for infrastructure should be given to Sanskrit Universities and it should be ensured that those teaching the language in schools get the same salary as teachers of other subjects, an HRD Ministry- appointed committee has said.

The panel, headed by former Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami, on Thursday submitted its 40-page report to the ministry in which it has recommended measures for promotion of Sanskrit and 'veda-vidya'.

"One of the key suggestions in the report is that the UGC should provide a one-time grant for developing Infrastructure in Sanskrit Universities," Gopalaswami told PTI.

There are three Sanskrit Universities under the Centre and over a dozen state universities.

The panel found that salaries paid to Sanskrit teachers in schools were often less than those of their peers teaching other subjects.

Gopalaswami said during the British period emoluments of Sanskrit teachers used to be less than their peers teaching other subjects and, in many states, even now those teaching the language draw lesser pay. The panel has therefore recommended a pay parity in schools, he said.

Observing there was no B Ed course in Sanskrit, the committee has suggested introduction of diploma course for those aspiring to become teachers in the subject.

Besides, the panel has suggested that the proposed Maharishi Sandipani Rastriya Veda Vidya Pratisthan in Ujjain be converted into a Central Sanskrit and Vedic Studies Board for the benefit of Sanskrit 'pathshalas' across the country.

Gopalaswami said the committee pitched for support to oriental research institutes and manuscript libraries where a lot of good work is being done.
The study was published in the journal Scientific Reports.