60 pc teachers join DUTA strike

Registrars notice, suspension threats fail to act as deterrent for them

Despite Delhi University registrar’s notification to all colleges and departments asking teachers not to join Delhi University Teachers’ Association’s one-day hunger strike, association members said at least 60 per cent teachers participated.

DUTA executive and elected members of academic and executive council are on hunger strike since Tuesday morning which will end at 9 am on Wednesday.

“There has been constant intimidation by the university officials to the teachers who try to raise their voice. Notices, suspension orders, threats of break in service and no work, no pay orders even for permanent teachers has been going on,” said an ad hoc teacher from Ramjas College.

The teacher said about 40 per cent teachers who are on ad hoc basis cannot talk about their plight and they did not even get their summer vacation salary this year.

According to a DUTA

member, some classes were held as a large number of ad hoc teachers had to follow the registrar’s orders.

“One of our demands is that this adhocism should end. When there are letters sent to the vice chancellor from University Grants Commission and ministry of human resource development to fill the vacant posts, then why isn’t any recruitment taking place,” the member asked.

Teachers who have served for a long time feel that the changes starting from the implementation of semester system have affected the quality of education.

“I come from a college where teachers don’t strike often. But today I saw many teachers wearing black badges to show support.

“We all are scared, but what do we do? When we see our students with the kind of curriculum introduced (semester system) losing the capacity to think and question, who would want to be a part of the University,” said Nandita Narain, Professor of Mathematics atSt Stephen’s College.

DUTA members are now questioning VC’s capability to have a dialogue with the teachers’ body.

“We are willing to talk. But now we are starting to think that the VC cannot engage in a dialogue with us.

“Maybe because he does not have any rational and logical reasoning to the questions we will come up with,” said DUTA member Abha Dev Habib, professor of Physics at Miranda House.

The teachers’ body has decided to intensify its fight.

Education minister Kiran Walia visited the striking members and appealed to vice
chancellor to address issues relating to teaching, non-teaching and students bodies.