DUTA stages hunger strike at home to demand payment of salary

NEW DELHI: The Delhi University Teachers’ Association, or DUTA, is staging a hunger-strike at home against the Delhi Government on Tuesday.

The strike has been called to demand salaries of the teaching and non-teaching staff in the 12 Delhi Government-funded colleges of Delhi University.

According to the Times of India, the Delhi Government released the grants in March to pay the salaries for the months of January and February. The funds have been further delayed for the month of March and April depriving the teachers of salaries during a global pandemic.

Several took to social media to voice their demand for the release of funds. Adhering to the country-wide lockdown guidelines, the teachers are holding placards condemning the act of Delhi Government sitting at home.

“Employees of 12 DU colleges will not get salaries if grants are not released. This is a criminal act to deprive employees of their salaries during the pandemic. Sitting Hunger Strike against [the] callous act of Govt!,” wrote Prem Chand, joint secretary of DUTA.

Abha Dev Habib, treasurer of DUTA wrote: “[Three] 3 DU colleges have not paid salaries for March. Twelve 100% Delhi Govt funded DU colleges will not be able to pay salaries from April onwards!”

A call to “storm the twitter” has been made to raise the awareness and demand action from the government.

There are total 91 colleges affiliated to DU out of which 12 are fully funded by the Delhi Government.

#DelhiGovtReleaseGrants#Employees_go_without_salaries Employees of 12 DU colleges will not get salaries if grants are not release. This is criminal act to deprive employees of their salaries during pandemic. Sitting Hunger Strike against callous act of Govt!
DUTA march on! pic.twitter.com/eIknjsguPs

— आनन्द प्रकाश (@anand1587) April 28, 2020

#DelhiGovtReleaseGrants#Employees_go_without_salaries Employees of 12 DU colleges will not get salaries if grants are not release. This is criminal act to deprive employees of their salaries during pandemic. Sitting Hunger Strike against callous act of Govt!
DUTA march on pic.twitter.com/18FTDDjiBS

— Dr Prem Chand (@OfficeOfPC_) April 28, 2020

#DUTA on Hunger strike against Delhi Government's autocracy of Non-Payment of salaries and dues .#DelhiGovtReleaseGrants#Employess_go_without_salaries@ArvindKejriwal @msisodia @LambaAlka @RahulGandhi @OfficeOfPC_ @jharajesh pic.twitter.com/tKfmYDTbdj

— Ashok Poonia (@ashoka_poonia) April 28, 2020

#DUTA#DelhiGovtReleaseGrants#Employees_go_without_salaries Employees of 12 DU colleges will not get salaries if grants are not released. Not acceptable, criminal in the face of pandemic. Teachers on Hunger Strike today against callous act of Delhi Govt! https://t.co/cvqeIK6bxu pic.twitter.com/CTOhsZ6F4H

— Abha Dev Habib (@ADH05748232) April 28, 2020