Maharaja Agrasen College teachers protest over non-payment of salaries; hold 'shoe polish dharna'

NEW DELHI: Maharaja Agrasen College, University of Delhi, teachers organized a 'Shoe Polish Dharna' outside the college gate to protest against the Delhi government today, January 27. The protest was for non-payment of salaries for the last four months. A large number of college students also came out in support of their teachers and joined 'dharna'.

The Ad-hoc teachers of the college are yet to be paid the arrears of the Seventh Pay Commission. The teachers have also not received medical reimbursement, children's education allowance, and Leave Travel Concession (LTC) for the last three years.

Teachers of Maharaja Agrasen College polishing shoes outside the college gate

The employees of Maharaja Agrasen College have not been paid salaries for the last four months and, as a result, are facing severe financial hardship. Several employees have defaulted on their loan EMIs. They are unable to pay the school fees of their children and meet the medical expenses.

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A release issued by the teachers of the college reads: "For several months, the teachers have been raising the issue of their salary with the Principal and the Governing Body and appealing to DUTA, Vice Chancellor, Lt. Governor, and Delhi Government, but no solution is in sight. Delhi Government, which claims to be the champion of promoting education, is forcing its college employees to starve. They neither agree to have a dialogue with the college teachers nor give any reason for not releasing the full grant".

The teachers have made the decision to begin a protest in order to persuade the government to find a solution to the problem since they can no longer bear to live in challenging circumstances. The teachers have made the decision to continue the protest in various ways until a permanent solution is found and salaries are paid on time each month.

The Shoe Polish Dharna was held today as the first action to draw attention to their situation. On the road outside the college, the teachers polished the shoes of the public, including their students, and gathered some money to mobilise public support for their cause.

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The twelve colleges of Delhi University are hundred per cent funded by the Delhi government, and it is these colleges that have been facing the issue of insufficient and delayed financial grants for the last three years.