12 Delhi colleges in dire straits, can’t even pay teachers

New Delhi: The teaching and non-teaching staff of 12 colleges of the Delhi University (DU), fully funded by the Delhi government, have not received their salaries for several months.

The employees have been knocking the doors of University Grant Commission (UGC), urging them to takeover these colleges.

These DU colleges include Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar College, Maharaja Agrasen College, Maharshi Valmiki College, Indira Gandhi Sports College, Aditi Mahavidyalaya, Bhagini Nivedita College, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College, Bhaskaracharya College of Applied Science and Keshav Mahavidyalaya among others.

The employees say their salaries can be barely paid with the financial grants of the Delhi government. These colleges also have guest teachers, contractual employees, who get Rs 12,000 to Rs 15,000 per month, and for the last two months, many have not been paid. According to the teachers, they are working without pay.

The Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) says that the ad-hoc teachers working in these 12 colleges are being described as ghost employees by the state government.

DUTA has demanded that these ad-hoc and temporary teachers should be accommodated by bringing a Bill in the Delhi Legislative Assembly.

The teachers’ body has also sought the immediate release of 25 per cent seats under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) quota.

DUTA has urged the Central government to bring the 28 colleges funded and administered by the Delhi government directly under the UGC.

Delhi University Executive Council member and advocate Ashok Aggarwal has said that the non-payment of salary to teachers and employees is against the right to earn a living. He said that he is ready to assist and cooperate legally in the matter.

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