DUTA protests against tripartite MoU

Delhi University Teachers' Association (DUTA) Thursday protested against the proposed tripartite agreement between the HRD Ministry, DU and UGC, saying it is oriented towards commercialisation and undermines the "autonomous grant-based funding decisions of the UGC".

DUTA protested outside the vice-chancellors' office while the varsity's Executive Council meeting, which had the tripartite MoU on its agenda, was underway on Thursday.

Students and teachers protested against the Tripartite MoU that the Ministry of Human Resource Development wants Delhi University to sign, in order to continue receiving funds from the UGC, said DUTA in a statement.

"This MoU undermines the autonomous grant-based funding decisions of the UGC and simultaneously appropriates the entire funding function under the executive authority of the government," the statement said.

They alleged through the MoU, the HRD Ministry allows itself the scope to bypass the UGC and set quantified performance targets for DU (as well as other central universities).

These targets, set down in tabular form as Annexure to the MoU, are all oriented towards commercialisation, it alleged.

"They compel the funds-receiving university to evaluate its own performance in terms of the direct market value of its courses, the percentage employability of its graduates, extra-mural funding for research through corporate sources, internal revenue generation by raising student-fees and through alumni donations, and infrastructural loans through Higher Education Funding Authority," the DUTA statement said.

In DU, approximately 2000 teachers have not been given their due promotions for over a decade. Retired teachers are being denied pensions, it alleged.

"Students are enrolled into self-financed professional courses but not given the minimum infrastructure that would guarantee a competent level of professional training. The ongoing student-unrest at the Delhi School of Journalism attests to this callous and indifferent attitude of the government towards the learning-needs of students," the DUTA claimed.

The DUTA also protested the way in which the Dyal Singh College governing body chairman, Amitabh Sinha, has chosen to violate the university ordinances, usurp the powers of the Dyal Singh College principal and send him on forced leave without seeking the approval of the vice-chancellor, it said.

Sinha also make an unauthorized appointment by ordering the principal of the Evening College to officiate in the absence of the principal. The DUTA asked the university to categorically set-aside all these decisions and removed Sinha from the chairmanship of the Dyal Singh College Governing Body, the statement said.