MADURAI: The ‘Save MKU Coalition’ will hold a public hearing in Madurai on July 19th 2025 to elicit views from a cross section of people about the financial crisis of Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU) and difficulties faced by the varsity to pay salaries and pensions every month, and what should be the role of State government to save this university.
Addressing a large gathering of pensioners and members of various associations in the university campus here today- June 23rd 2025, Prof.A.Srinivasan and Dr.R.Murali of ‘Save MKU Coalition’ have said that it is the duty of the State government to find a quick permanent solution for the salaries and pension issues of varsity because thousands of families are struggling every month.
“We will form a three-member panel for the public hearing and the tentative date is July 19th. The point here is not just about pension or salaries because the whole university’s future and higher education will be at stake if universities are plagued by financial crunch month after month. Our agitation to save MKU will be intensified in coming days. After the public hearing, we will also have a massive human chain in Madurai by university staff, pensioners, their families, associations and the general public,” Dr.R.Murali has said.
The MKU Pensioners Association had staged a protest in the varsity campus today and it was supported by MKU Faculty Association (MUFA), Tamil Nadu Retired College Teachers Association and the ‘Save MKU Coalition’ whose members had attended in large numbers.
ANNOUNCE INDEFINITE STRIKE:
Dr.N.Periathambi, secretary, TANRECTA-Madurai district unit, has asked the MKU employees to announce an indefinite strike and boycott their duties till the government comes forward to solve the financial crisis of MKU. He also stressed to involve students in the issues faced by university staff and pensioners who are yet to receive their May month salary.
“When the State government can allot funds and save Annamalai University, then why not the same thing for MKU in Madurai. The Tamil Nadu Retired College Teachers Association will extend its support to the MKU Pensioners Association and university staff in their tough times,” Dr.N.Periathambi has added.
Dr.A.Srinivasan, president, MKU Pensioners Association and Mr.A.Swaminathan, secretary, told reporters that there are totally 1,177 pensioners for MKU and 12 of them are above 90 years of age and 68 pensioners are more than 80 years age.
“There are 437 family pensioners whose only source for living is pension…..Protecting the rights of pensioners is government duty and we are facing problems for the last four years. High Court judgments are there clearly stating that pension is not charity and it is a legal right. We are urging the Higher Education Minister, Finance Department and university authorities to find a solution and release our pension on the last day of every month,” Dr.A.Srinivasan had said.
