Say move will make courses offered at govt-aided Abhinav Kala Mahavidyalaya unaffordable for students
Say move will make courses offered at govt-aided Abhinav Kala Mahavidyalaya unaffordable for studentsu00a0
Teachers at the Abhinav Kala Mahavidyalaya are a displeased lot. The management's bid to privatise the institute has not found favour with its teachers, who said such a move would make the courses unaffordable for students. 
Yension brewing: Teachers at Abhinav Kala Mahavidyalaya, the
city's premier art institute, are upset over privatise plans.
Pic.Krunal Gosavi
There was tension in the air at the college, as word spread that the management was planning to privatise the government-aided institute in a bid to raise funds towards a portion of teaching staff members' salaries.
According to the teachers, the entire issue was over 10 per cent of their salary that is to be paid by the management.
"It is a rule in all government-aided institutes that 90 per cent of salaries come from government and 10 per cent is taken care of by the management.
For many months, we didn't receive our salary and approached the court after which our salary was released a few days ago. Now, on the pretext that they don't have funds for salaries and that government funds don't come on time, the management is trying to privatise the institute," said a senior professor.
The professors said the government had already granted permission to run a non-aided private wing within the institute premises and offer diplomas to students through this institute.
"They already have the non-aided wing to generate funds, so we don't see the need to privatise the aided institute. All of us teachers are opposed to this idea mainly for the future of our students. Currently, we get students from humble background, but who have real talent and need an opportunity.
Once privatisation happens, students won't be able to afford the fees, and we will be the reason for spoiling their careers," said Dhananjay Sataskar, senior artist and professor at the college.
Other senior professors said that they would not allow privatisation of the institute and that the management should change its decision or be prepared for a long-drawn battle.
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