DUTA Press Release: 17 January 2019

The overwhelming response by teachers of Delhi University in
observing a complete strike today is a strong disapproval of the
Government policy towards higher education. The DUTA salutes the several
thousand teachers who participated in the Long March from Ramlila
Maidan to Parliament Street. The DUTA has been consistently highlighting
and bringing to the attention of the Government of India the plight of
4000 ad-hoc and temporary teachers who have worked for years under
exploitative and insecure conditions of service. The DUTA condemns the
MHRD not only for its absolute indifference to the plight of these
teachers but also for the despicable attempt to disallow teachers from
marching by putting up barricades along the way and at Jantar Mantar.
Teachers continued with the March and finally courted arrest at
Parliament Street in protest against the callous approach of the
Government to issues afflicting teachers and higher education. The DUTA
condemns the insensitivity and the indifference of the MHRD towards
resolving this burning issue. Instead, the policy thrust adopted by the
MHRD is an assault on public funded education by using every possible
method to withdraw funding. The latest step is the attempts to bring in
contractual jobs in Delhi University.  The DUTA also condemns the MHRD
for refusing to meet the representatives of teachers to start a dialogue
for resolution of the issues.

The DUTA has
been demanding from the Government a One-time Regulation for the
absorption of ad-hoc and temporary teachers and the immediate
restoration of the 200 point reservation roster keeping the University/
College as a unit through an Ordinance/ Bill. The DUTA condemns the MHRD
for failing in its promise to bring in an Ordinance, a promise made by
the Minister several times in the Press. The DUTA has submitted a
Memorandum to the MHRD (attached).

The DUTA
calls upon teachers to join the Strike on the issues relating to
promotions tomorrow *(18 January 2019)* as well and turn up in large
numbers for the Dharna at the University to highlight the issues related
to the promotion of large numbers of teachers who have been denied
their due for long years.