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.