In an epic gathering of more than 1000 teachers at the Faculty of Arts main gate at the University of Delhi, the ad hoc & temporary teachers of DU staged a protest demanding regularisation of workload using with correct GoI roster.
The teachers voiced the unplanned interviews in only select departments of DU have led to a huge increase in the ad hoc workforce of DU to as much as 4500 currently. They further highlighted the plight of teachers who face immense hardships as their services are renewed every four months and they are often denied vacation salaries and other benefits like leave, etc. They also highlighted the lax nature of MHRD and the UGC, who have allowed Delhi University to keep teachers in this vulnerable state of employment for long years leading to a demoralisation of talented young aspirants.
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Their main demand was to challenge the failure of the University administration in holding permanent interviews to fill up the vacancies in teaching posts. The teachers questioned the government’s documentation that stated the lack of talented & qualified teachers in DU.
Nandita Narain, President – DUTA said that the only solution to this impending problem was to immediately regularise both ad hoc and temporary teachers, working within the Constitutional framework of the DoPT roster and other legal obligations.
Member of Executive Council – DUTA emphasised that since 2007, DU has been constantly violating its own rules by not holding permanent and temporary interviews for filling up posts where ad-hoc teachers have been working for 4 months+.
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Further, many feared the slashing of funds meant for the development and promotion of higher education by the government, contractual jobs might become a reality in the near future.
The Dharna was concluded with a March to the V.C’s office. The need of the hour was to immediately chalk out an action program to pressurise the university for permanent appointments.