Total Shut Down in DU for 2 days

Teachers express anger against the VC and Government

The DUTA congratulates the teachers of Delhi University who participated enthusiastically in the 2 day shut-down of the University. Teaching in colleges came to a standstill as DUTA activists moved across colleges to mobilize teachers for today’s dharna. Today, thousands of teachers turned up in large numbers at Gate No. 1 to express their collective anger at the failure of the Government and the Vice-Chancellor to resolve their long standing demands.

The success of the shut-down is testimony to the fact that teachers are unwilling to tolerate the Government’s single minded agenda to destroy public funded education. Apart from the push to privatization and commercialization, the realization that thousands are languishing without permanent jobs, promotions have become a distant proposition for most teachers and pensioners are facing huge set-backs in the twilight of their life has pushed the all sections of teachers of DU on the warpath.

Speakers also highlighted the complete failure of the Vice-Chancellor of DU to ensure the adoption of the UGC Regulations 2018 so that teachers denied promotions for long years can get their rightful due. The over-bureaucratic approach of the VC has paralyzed the academic and administrative functioning of the University. The DUTA warns the Vice-Chancellor to desist from further procrastination and immediately call a meeting of the Academic Council and table the recommendations of the committee set up to facilitate the framing of relevant Ordinances in accordance with UGC Regulations.

The palpable anger at the Government’s denial of even the most basic rights to teachers including revised allowances and pensions, resolutions of the anomalies of the VI Pay Revision including stepping up, removal of the negative clauses of the UGC Regulations and denial of pension through challenges to rightfully won court cases, was expressed through slogans and speeches. The young teachers are particularly exercised by the fact that appointments have been delayed for one reason or the other and neither the Government nor the University is willing to take cognizance of their plight. The silence on the issue of the reservation roster to ensure treating the University/ College as a unit clearly shows the Govt’s intention.

The DUTA also expressed its solidarity with the All India Trade Union Strike and is determined to join hands with all sections of society to fight for the scrapping of the NPS and the demands of absorption/ regularization.

Delhi University witnessed total shutdown on Wednesday

DU halts as teachers and karamcharis strike work against the negative recommendations of 7th Pay Revision

In response to the DUTA's call for Strike on 7th Feb, 2018, the Delhi University witnessed total shutdown of its colleges with teachers observing Strike to protest against the retrograde recommendations of the 7th Pay Revision. Empty classrooms, empty staff rooms and empty department rooms became a familiar sight today in colleges across the University as teachers expressed their anger over the inordinate delay in the implementation of the 7th CPC. DUCKU, the Karamchari Union at DU, also observed Strike today against the negative recommendations for the non-teaching employees.

One of the most draconian recommendations of the 7th CPC is the point 18 which categorically states that the revised pay of teachers in the colleges and the Universities is subject to the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Finance (Department of Education) vide OM No. 1/1/2016-E.III(A) dated 13.01.2017. The said Office Memorandum states that the Central Universities will get only 70% of the enhanced financial burden and they need to generate the remaining 30% on their own. The DUTA demands a complete rollback of this 70-30% model of funding as this disastrous push towards privatisation and contractualisation will make quality education out of the reach of the economically deprived and socially underprivileged students including those belonging to the SC, ST and OBC.

The 7th CPC notification is full of anti-teacher provisions. The withdrawal of advanced M.Phil and Ph.D increments has disappointed and demoralised the teaching cadre. This will act as an  disincentive for research and faculty development. There has been downgrading of Assistant Professor at every level. Besides creating disparity between teachers and All India Services, this pay notification delinks our allowances from the Central Government employees. Moreover, this pay hike records the lowest post-independence hike for incumbent teachers with a measly rise from 17.35 to 23.01%. It is also shocking that the MHRD notification gives no reference to the revised pension benefits.

The DUTA demands the resolution of anomalies of the 6th CPC, no stagnation of Associate Professors, Professors and Principals, promotion to Professorship in colleges, scrapping of API, time-bound promotions, no retrospective application of API, counting of past service, immediate notification of the new pension in the 7th CPC and 100% central assistance to all educational institutions.

The DUTA will intensify its agitation in the coming few days if the issues are not resolved at the earliest. The DUTA calls for a Halla Bol at UGC on 8.02.2018 from 12 to 3 with classes suspended from 11 AM.  Representatives from other Central Universities in Delhi will also join the protest at the UGC. In coming days, the DUTA will reach out to students and parents to build a joint movement in defence of public funded higher education.