DUTA protests against tripartite MoU
New Delhi: Hundreds of teachers and students marched under the Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) banner on Wednesday against the tripartite MoU, and the Centre's failure to issue an ordinance on the reservation roster, aimed at resuming permanent appointments for thousands of vacant teaching posts in DU departments and colleges.
In a statement, DUTA said that it categorically opposed the tripartite memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Human Resource Development, DU and University Grants Commssion because it asks the University and its colleges to generate resources through regular fee-hikes, increased enrollment and mobilise revenue from corporate sources, alumni and through self-financed courses.
"It also puts an end to UGC grants and forces the University to take infrastructure loans through HEFA (Higher Education Financing Agency). Additionally, it allows the Ministry of Human Resource Development to set absurd quantified targets for the qualitative assessment and learning outcomes of courses offered in the University," the statement said.
The Association urged the government to immediately withdraw the tripartite MoU and allow a wider debate ways to strengthen higher education.
It also accused the government of failing to honour its own promise of issuing an ordinance on the reservation roster to enable universities to maintain status quo in appointments, while the issue is being reviewed by the Supreme Court.
It also reminded the HRD Minister that his "inability to keep his word on permanent appointments will aggravate the already prevalent state of discontent and unrest among teachers and students across universities."
"We have repeatedly written to the Ministry of HRD, urging it to release the revised allowances for teachers and non-teaching staff and revised pensions for all retired employees. Despite the notification of the Seventh Pay Revision in November last year, the government is still dragging its feet and delaying the payment of dues to teachers and other employees of universities and colleges.
"This neglect of higher education points towards the cynical indifference of the Union Government," read the statement.
The statement added that DUTA will mobilise wider sections of the academic community and unions against the government's attempts to dismantle public-funded higher education and deny education access to common people if the Ministry continues to insist on the MoU, and denies permanent appointments and due revisions in allowances and pensions.
