JOIN USAnsari must stop teacher's eviction: DUTA
Members of the Delhi University Teachers’ Association met Vice President Hamid Ansari on Tuesday, seeking his intervention over the eviction of a physically challenged teacher from DU accommodation.
The vice president is also the chancellor of DU.
G N Saibaba, who has 90 per cent orthopaedic disability, was served a notice recently to leave the university hostel accommodation. “We told Ansari about the DU administration’s inhuman and illegal attempt to evict the severely disabled teacher,” said DUTA president Amar Deo Sharma.
“We requested him to see Saibaba’s specific predicament in the light of his legal and human rights, and accordingly ask DU to fulfil its commitment towards its differently abled employees,” said Sharma.
Citing the law and rights of the differently abled, DUTA members said India is a signatory to the 2007 United Nations Convention on Persons with Disabilities, which makes it mandatory for the state to guarantee suitable housing rights to differently abled citizens.
“The Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995 makes it obligatory on the part of the employer to arrange suitable accommodation for a differently abled employee according to his or her specific needs,” added Sharma.
According to DUTA, the DU administration has issued a formal notice of eviction despite the fact that Saibaba’s appeal against the university is pending in the court of the chief commissioner of persons with disability.
“Ansari promised to ensure justice. He assured DUTA members that all possible steps will be taken to ensure that Saibaba’s legitimate rights are not trampled upon,” said Sharma.
DUTA also submitted a memorandum of demands drafted by NGO Sambhavana, which works for differently abled students, teachers and non-teaching staff in DU.
“Despite running an equal opportunities cell, DU has done little more than paying lip service in catering to the genuine needs of the differently abled,” said Sharma.
Sharma added that Ansari also promised to study the memorandum closely, and to ensure that the just demands of the differently abled sections are met properly.