DU VC breaks ice, holds meeting with teachers' union

Delhi University Vice Chancellor Dinesh Singh, for the first time Monday, interacted with representatives of the Delhi University Teachers' Association (DUTA).

Calling it a "welcome step", the DUTA members said the meeting took place after they met HRD minister Smriti Irani Friday and told her Dinesh Singh had not engaged in any dialogue with the elected representatives of teachers and students.

"The meeting lasted for almost an hour and we took up a host of issues that have remained unresolved for the past three years as a result of lack of dialogue with the university administration," DUTA president Nandita Narain told IANS.

FYUP, permanent appointments and the difficulties faced by ad-hoc teachers due to three years of stalled appointments, arbitrary and unacademic screening criteria, faulty implementation, issue of School of Open Learning, victimisation of teachers in several colleges, including suspensions, salary cuts, denial of promotion were among the many issues.

"We specifically told the VC how the four year undergraduate programme is not good academically and also expensive for students," added Narain.

"The VC, however, did not respond and showed no commitment to any of the issues. He just asked for our help in curbing absenteeism among the teachers," she said.

However, none of the university officials refused to say anything about the meeting.