DUTA Press Note: 28 September 2020

The DUTA started a Rolling Cluster-wise Strike in which teachers of a cluster of colleges will go on Strike and participate in an online protest programme. Teachers of AMV, ARSD, Bharati College, BNC, CVS, Gargi College, KMC, KMV, KNC, SAC (M&E), SBSC (M&E), SGGS College of Commerce and SSN observed Strike today.

The DUTA is protesting against the Delhi Government for delayed and sporadic release of grants in the 12 colleges of Delhi University that are 100% funded by it. The grants released recently (22 September) to the six colleges are not adequate to cover salaries of all the employees and their dues. Employees of the other six colleges still await salaries and pension.

The excuses offered by the Government to defend the non-release of grants have been preposterous. Stopping of salaries, that too during a pandemic, is an extremely harsh and anti-employees measure. Through the press statements made by Deputy Chief Minister on 16 September, the Government has gone yet another step ahead to suggest that colleges should pay teachers’ salaries out of the money collected from students. 

The fees collected from students are used to carry out myriad activities for which the Government does not give grants. Moreover, this move will result in commercialization and privatization of education. These colleges of Delhi University are premier institutions that offer quality education, accessible to all sections of society, and the DUTA will resist such assaults on public funded higher education in the country. 

Repeated attempts to tarnish the image of these colleges through unsubstantiated statements about financial misdemeanour are unacceptable. Allegations of corruption, if any, must be proved and substantiated. While the Government is free to act against financial misdeeds, repeatedly subjecting these institutions to audits (even after three audits) smacks of an overreach and suggests that the Delhi Government is only interested in settling some political scores. 

Employees are in extremely difficult situation as salaries/ pensions have not been paid for over 5 months now. Payment of other dues of employees including medical bills, arrears of the 7th Pay Commission and vacation salary of ad-hoc teachers for last year 2019 have not been done due to inadequacy of grants. Even pensioners, perhaps the most vulnerable section of our society, have not been spared.

The DUTA has been repeatedly pointing out that inordinate and unexplained delays in release of grant have had a crippling effect on these institutions, which are amongst the best colleges of the country. The DUTA demands immediate release of salaries to the remaining six units and release of adequate grants to al the 12 Colleges to cover long pending dues.

Teachers of ANDC, BCAS, DBC, DDU, DSC, DSC (E), JDM, Kalindi, LIC, LSR, MH, MSC, MV College of Education, PGDAV (M&E), Ramanujan College, ZHDC and ZHC (E) will observe Strike and participate in the online protest tomorrow.