New Delhi, April 12 (HS). Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) demands resolution of the financial crisis that has been going on for the last several years in 12 funded colleges of Delhi Government, withdrawal of Minister Atishi's letter and starting recruitment of regular assistant professors and staff. Protested at Maharaja Agrasen College gate. During this, a large number of teachers participated.
DUTA has been continuously appealing to the Chief Minister and Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Government regarding these demands for many years but till now no permanent solution has been found. This was the fourth cluster strike of DUTA, in which teachers of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, Maharaja Agrasen, Shaheed Rajguru Maharishi Valmiki, Acharya Narendra Dev, PGDAV, Ramanujan, Deshbandhu, Shyamlal College, LIC, MSC and Vivekananda College participated in large numbers.
The teachers present on the strike raised slogans against the anti-education policies of the Delhi government. Hundreds of teachers took to the streets and informed the public and students about the ongoing financial crisis and other problems in 12 Delhi government funded colleges and the intention of the Delhi government to take over these colleges, make them self-financing and convert them into Ambedkar University. Got it done. Teachers said that Delhi government is creating problems by stopping the funding of these 12 colleges.
DUTA President Prof. Ajay Kumar Bhagi, while addressing the teachers sitting on strike, said that the crisis in these colleges had started after the Aam Aadmi Party came to power in Delhi government. The intention of Delhi Government is to take these colleges under its control and convert them into self-financed model, that is why Delhi Government wants to de-affiliate them from Delhi University. In this regard, Atishi, a minister in the Kejriwal government, had also written a letter to the Central Government.
DUTA President said that DUTA has been continuously opposing the privatization and anti-education policies of Delhi Government and will continue to do so in future also. DUTA has also appealed to the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi to resolve the funding and other problems of the twelve colleges. The Lieutenant Governor has constituted a high level committee in this matter.
He said that Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva also met the Lieutenant Governor and demanded a solution to this crisis, after which the Education Secretary asked for all the information. The Finance Secretary also assured that teacher posts will be recommended as per the rules of DU and UGC. Despite this, funds for March salaries and other allowances have not been released in many colleges. In the high level committee meeting in the first week of April, it was said to explore the possibility of paying salaries from student fees, which is proof that the Delhi government wants to implement the proposed pattern of self-financing on 12 colleges.
DUTA President said that the teachers union will strongly oppose the anti-education and privatization policies of the Delhi government and will not allow them to be implemented. DUTA President has demanded that the Delhi Government should release full and regular grants to these colleges unconditionally and start the process of permanent recruitment of teachers and staff in these colleges soon. The pattern of self-financing assistant should be withdrawn. Minister Atishi's letters regarding financial irregularities and deaffiliation should be withdrawn immediately.
DUTA President said that the protest will continue until the demands of the teachers are not met. Condemning Minister Atishi's letters, he said that the Delhi government wants to convert public education institutions into self-financed institutions, which DUTA will never allow to happen. Delhi government's efforts to pay salaries of teachers and staff from students' fees will be strongly opposed. In her letter, the Delhi Government Minister had talked about illegal creation of 939 teacher posts, in response to which the DUTA President said that such statement is not only baseless but is an attempt to arm-twist the employees and students of these colleges.
DUTA President said that Delhi Government intends to convert these colleges into degree granting autonomous colleges, which DUTA will not allow to be accomplished under any circumstances. Following the dharna, hundreds of teachers marched on the streets in the local area around Maharaja Agrasen College, protesting the Delhi government's attempt at privatization and demanding release of full and regular grants to the twelve colleges and recommendation of teacher posts and immediate initiation of the recruitment process. Raised loud slogans in support of the demand.