The posts of librarians and physical education (PE) directors seem to be the most overlooked when it comes to recruitments in Government Arts and Science Colleges in the State. For, of the 62 such colleges in Tamil Nadu, 44 do not have a librarian while all 62 do not have a PE director.
According to documents obtained through RTI, the figures stand out even starker when the 12 new government arts and science colleges that were started this year, are taken into consideration. These budding colleges have neither librarians nor PE directors, taking the figures to 56 and 74 respectively. These posts have remained vacant for close to two decades. While the posts of PE directors have remained vacant since 1994-95, that of librarians have been left unfilled since 1996-97, the reply stated.
With the colleges staring at a paucity of librarians, professors are being saddled with the additional charge of looking after the libraries. Dr R Murthy, associate professor at Presidency College, Chennai, said: “When (the duty) is entrusted to a professor, there is a tendency to treat it as a clerical job. Further, he would not be able to properly concentrate on his duties. It is the college that ultimately becomes the loser.”
The State capital is no exception to the phenomenon. These posts have not been filled in three of Chennai’s colleges. While the post of librarian remains vacant at the Lady Willingdon Institute of Advanced Study in Education, the PE director post is headless at the Dr Ambedkar Govt Arts College, Vyasarpadi, Queen Mary’s College and Lady Willingdon Institute of Advanced Study in Education.
The RTI reply also reveals that efforts were made to fill up the posts of librarians and PE directors through direct recruitment via the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission, in 2009 and 2006 respectively.