'Destroying 12 DU colleges': DUTA to hold strike outside CM’s residence over salaries, merger

NEW DELHI: The Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) will hold a strike in front of Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence today against the “constant trouble faced by 12 DU colleges, fund cuts and irregular payment of salaries”.

Tagging Arvind Kejriwal and Delhi education minister Manish Sisodia, the Democratic Teachers' Front secretary, Abha Dev Habib said: “5 years of constant trouble for 12 DU Colleges that are 100% funded by Delhi Govt. Colleges are facing funds cut and irregular payment of salaries. You are destroying the 12 DU Colleges!”

Saying "no to fund cuts and misgovernance", the DU teachers demanded release of salaries and other dues, sanction teaching positions and withdraw the merger order of College of Arts from Ambedkar University (AUD).

In June, several teachers of the Delhi University held a candlelight vigil in front of Delhi CM’s residence to protest against the merger. It has also been protesting against the "financial crises" in the 12 DU colleges funded by the city government.

After multiple protests, a delegation of DU Teachers Association met Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena in July to apprise him of the fund cuts in 12 DU colleges. DUTA President AK Bhagi had also submitted a detailed document showing the deficit of amount in crores for the financial year 2022-23 of these 12 DU colleges.

The colleges that are funded by the Delhi government include Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College, Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar College, Shaheed Rajguru College of Applied Sciences for Women, Aditi Mahavidyalaya, Keshav Mahavidyalaya, Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies, Bhagini Nivedita College, Acharya Narendra Dev College, Maharishi Balmiki College of Education, Bhaskaracharya College of Applied Sciences, Indira Gandhi Institute of Physical Education and Sports Science and Maharaja Agrasen College.