Kolkata: State education minister Partha Chatterjee told the Assembly Thursday that the state government will fill all the vacancies in the universities, about 36 per cent, in next six months.

“We are taking all possible steps to complete the recruitment on all the vacant posts within six months,” Mr. Chatterjee said while tabling the West Bengal College and Universities (Administration and Regulation) Bill 2017 in the Assembly. The Bill was deferred in the Winter Session in December last year with the Congress and the Left Front dubbing it as “anti-people”. With the Opposition parties boycotting the Assembly sessions in protest against the alleged heckling of Leader of Opposition Abdul Mannan, the Bill was passed without any hurdle.

“There were some problems with the language (of the Bill). We have amended them and it will surely work in improving the standard of education,” the education minister said. Highlighting the “positives”, he said the Bill will ensure smooth payment of Provident Fund to the teachers as it will be paid through the state treasury.

Batting for biometric attendance for the teachers, the education minister pointed out, “The state government wants to ensure punctuality, attendance and meaningful contribution from the teachers when it comes to imparting education. Teachers should not work only for monetary benefit but also help create students who will make our state as well as the country proud. This Bill is a stride towards this,” Mr Chatterjee said.