The Tribune, DUTA ends strike, to begin relay fast

The week-long ‘Save Higher Education’ strike, announced by the Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA), concluded here today. However, the saga of protests is not over. The DUTA, at its general body meeting, ratified the proposal to go on an indefinite relay hunger strike outside the Vice-Chancellor’s office from tomorrow.

The week-long strike seems to have proved successful as the V-C today promised to ensure that the workload committee, instituted to review the workload norms, presented its report on a priority basis. He further agreed to call for an immediate meeting of the Academic Council to take a final decision on the workload norms. This followed admittance by the UGC that the issue of teacher workload is primarily academic in nature and hence falls outside its purview.

The UGC, in a letter to the V-C, urged him to resolve the issue internally through the convening of the Academic Council, which in subtle terms implied a victory for the DUTA since the Academic Council has been in favour of the current workload directive — 15 hours per week..

The last day of the strike witnessed the DUTA members marching around the campus and staging a final protest outside the V-C’s office. The strike, which cost the government an estimated Rs 6 crore, has resulted in a week-long sabbatical from education, for students and teachers alike. The DUTA confirmed that classes would commence tomorrow and the teaching time lost would be compensated through extra classes. “We will not let the students’ interest suffer under any circumstance,” said DUTA treasurer Sanjay Bohidar.

Earlier today, the DUTA general body was convened and it decided to sustain the pressure but in a more focussed manner. The general body decided to concentrate the pressure on the university since the UGC had bailed itself out by passing the buck to the V-C.

In events succeeding the general body meeting, the V-C apologised for his absence on Saturday, when the DUTA members had staged a torchlight procession outside his office. The V-C had agreed to meet the DUTA members on Saturday, but was unable to meet them citing “health reasons”.