Delhi University Teachers’ Association feels that due to a ‘complete deadlock’ between the teaching community and authorities over academic reforms and policy making, it has to resort to indefinite relay hunger strike starting from October 10.
“We have been talking about the existing issues time and again. But there is no response. The vice chancellor is still not meeting our association. He even called DUTA an illegal body in media,” said DUTA member Abha Dev Habib.
DUTA being defamed
She added that it is his propaganda to defame DUTA in public domain, so that they do not have a stand in the next agitation.
In 2010, during the initiation process to implement semester system in all undergraduate courses, the teachers union went on a hunger strike.
“We will further intensify the agitation probably by involving students and the non-teaching members. Hunger strike is one of the way in which trade unions function,” she said.
“Vice chancellors are appointed politically. However, there are instances when they had gone against the government pressure in the past.”
She added for the first time in DU’s history everything revolves around the VC.
Officials too afraid to talk
“DU officials are jittery to talk about anything. They don’t want to give their names in media as they are scared of the consequences,” she said.
“All these academic changes are cluelessly taking place. Its such a choked-up situation where none of the stakeholders are part of these so-called reforms.”
Members are of the view that if the feedback about implementing the semester system and the four-year graduation proposal was taken care of, then such agitations would not have taken place.
“The executive and academic council members are not allowed to use their brains. The VC thinks he can do whatever he wants without any discussion or debate,” said another member.
DUTA members have already met President Pranab Mukherjee, human resource development minister Kapil Sibal, chief minister Sheila Dikshit, University Grants Commission chairman Ved Prakash regarding the issue..