DUTA Press Release, 27 September 2019

Teachers, under the banner of DUTA, gathered today outside Vidhan Sabha to register their strong protest at the manner in which the employees of the 28 colleges partially or fully funded by the Delhi Government are being treated.

As the result of the stand off with DU on the matter of non- formation of Governing Bodies, Delhi Government has once again stopped grants to colleges. This has lead to crisis in these units, especially the twelve 100% Delhi Government funded colleges.

Staff Association Office Bearers of the  twelve 100% funded colleges narrated how uncertainty in getting salaries has led to crisis in colleges. Employees, teaching and non-teaching, are under tremendous stress. The repeated stopping of funds is resulting in delayed payments of other reimbursements due to the employees. The worst hit are the  teaching and non-teaching staff working on ad-hoc/contract basis.

This unwarranted action of the Government is also affecting the students enrolled in these institutions as the academic and administrative day-to-day functioning of these units is affected in myriad ways.

The protestors also highlighted the urgent need of additional posts for teaching and non-teaching staff in view of the EWSs expansion. Many new courses that were started after obtaining the necessary approvals are also being starved of funds required for appointing teachers to run these courses. The delay is affecting the quality of education in these units as institutions are forced to work with over crowded class rooms and adverse  student-teacher ratio.

The DUTA also reminded that the salaries, reimbursements and arrears due to employees on account of the 7th Pay Revision are yet to be paid in these colleges.

Protestors also demanded that the Delhi Government must perform its duty to pay the mandatory 5% due from it in the case of the other partially funded 16 colleges.

The DUTA demands that basic rights of employees and institutions should not be compromised at any cost. Salaries and grants should be released immediately.

Rajib Ray President, DUTA Rajinder Singh Secretary, DUTA