Given the nature of the challenges, electing representatives whose primary responsibility is not to please the Union Government, the Delhi Government, or the DU administration is paramount. Regrettably, many elected representatives, including the current DUTA leadership, have reduced themselves to cheerleaders of those wielding power, as evidenced by their refusal to register dissent and inform teachers of the detrimental policy changes that adversely affect teachers and education.

The DTF firmly believes that the well-being of teachers and the state of the learning environment are intrinsically linked and mutually reinforcing. Unwise corporate-driven policy changes that adversely affect learning environment are bound to negatively impact teachers. Those who promise one while simultaneously asking us to ignore the other are either short-sighted or driven by other considerations.

The academic restructuring, such as the FYUP, the ill-conceived admission policy (CUET) leading to delayed admissions, or the denial of additional teaching posts or infrastructure following the increase in student intake due to EWS reservation in admissions demonstrate the intentions of the Government and our University authorities. For those who still have doubts, the Institutional Development Plan (IDP) presented to the Academic Council and the Executive Committee recently makes it amply clear – that DU is now only 76.6% dependent on governmental funding and seeks to become “independent” of it. Consequently, look to the market for funding and restructure academic programs, activities, and service conditions appropriately to facilitate self-financing. Commercialization and eventual privatization, in short. Once we permit this, resisting the determination of teachers’ service conditions based on their commercial value would become exceedingly challenging.

Teachers, employees and retirees of the 12 Delhi Government colleges are bearing the brunt of repeated grant freeze and cuts by the Delhi Government which impact salaries, pensions, medical reimburse-ments, and so on. Students have been denied essential infrastructural facilities necessary for an effective learning environment. The Delhi Government’s mis-conceived notions of their role in governance reveals their complete lack of understanding of how educational institutions ought to function. In contrast to mere posturing and superficial political maneuverings by the University administration and the DUTA leadership, the DTF has been advocating for the unification of the struggle against the Delhi Government for funding with the urgent demand for UGC funding of these colleges. This would provide a more secure and long-term solution for colleges under a central university.

The stalling of permanent appointments in these 12 colleges has caused immense uncertainty and harassment for our colleagues working in ad hoc capacity. Equally unacceptable is stalling of appointments in St Stephen’s and Shyam Lal College (Evening). The arbitrary changes introduced by the University in the eligibility criteria constitute an unjust blow to these colleagues and others displaced from various colleges.

Since January 1, 2004, teachers and other employees recruited after that date have been compelled to join the New Pension Scheme, which the DTF has consistently regarded as a no-pension scheme. The current DUTA leadership has declined to participate in the broader struggle of government employees, as well as that of the FEDCUTA, for the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (which provided an assured pension and a GPF). In response to this struggle, the government is attempting to deceive by presenting a middle ground scheme called the Unified Pension Scheme. This scheme promises an assured pension but is based on employees’ contributions, unlike the old scheme, where no deductions were made from salaries for pension purposes.

Counting of total length of past service at every stage of promotion is an urgent issue, especially for those teachers who have recently become permanent after having worked in temporary or ad hoc capacities for long years. Furthermore, their past service should be factored into leave entitlement and pension eligibility. Temporary teachers’ service should be treated as continuous, and their entire past service should be counted for all benefits.

Not only that the University has failed to bring the UGC promotion scheme for Instructors or implement 7 CPC in certain Centers, but it is also now trying to undo our gains from years of struggle. It is extremely unfortunate that there was no resistance in the Executive Council against such attacks on the gains of teachers’ movement. Many decisions taken by the University are adversely affecting the career progression of teachers, such as the adoption of Ordinances in violation of conditions laid down in the UGC Regulations 2018 for promotions and recruitments, the new screening criteria implemented for recruitment at the College level, shift towards Scopus indexed journals and changes made for the recruitment of Physical Education and Librarians by introducing a written test. The new recruitment rules have led to an increase in cases of “no candidate shortlisted” and NFS in Departments. Ph.D. Regulations, which allows college teachers to supervise students, are being violated in many departments. Elected members in the EC as well as the DUTA leadership are complicit in their silence.

Emboldened by this silence, principals are treating colleges as their fiefdom and have targeted teachers by delaying promotions or extending probation periods. Going beyond the UGC Regulations 2018, some principals are insisting on an “interaction” for promotions from 10 AL to 11 Al and 11 AL to 12 AL.

Teachers of St Stephen’s fear stalling of promotions owing to DU-College conflict. University approval for the increment cuts of 7 Hindu College teachers, after nearly a decade while the matter is pending for judicial review, is a signal that ought not be ignored.

The University has been illegally making recoveries from teachers in violation of Hon’ble Supreme Court Judgment of 2014. This has caused great financial hardship to hundreds of teachers. Recent DU Notification regarding WUS an unjust imposition. Unfortunately, the DUTA has completely failed teachers.

Ad-hoc appointment has been arbitrarily banned by the University. Full time vacancies should be filled through appointments of full-time teachers. Increase in guestism is detrimental both for the institutions as well as those wanting to join teaching profession.

The demand for setting up UGC Pay review committee is urgent given the Union Government’s apparent disinterest, obviously linked to the attempt to withdraw from funding. We must be prepared for hurdles like the Government asking Universities to raise resources to meet 30% or more of the expenditure towards revised pay.

The University administration and the government must be compelled to respond to teachers’ concerns about the academic restructuring, the demotivation of teachers and students due to the excessive burden on students with large numbers of meaningless papers, increased lecture class sizes, tutorials, and practical groups, and the uncertainty surrounding workload.

University spaces have become platforms for babas and pracharaks, demanding reverence and not interrogation of their views. Many important subjects of study such as Constitutional law, discrimination, feminism, and Ambedkar proposed in the syllabi are under attack and the VC has authorized himself to intervene to make changes in consonance with the right-wing agenda.

Articulating opinions and building public opinion is essential if we are to make a difference. Forcing policy makers to respond to our concerns is what teacher representatives should do.

The DTF has a longstanding record of opposing anti-education policies. It has advocated and fought for public education and better service conditions for teachers. It stands committed to social and gender justice and equitable access to quality education for all sections of society. The DTF pledges to continue pursuing collective struggles in defense of these principles and appeals to teachers to elect people who are committed to these ideals.