Staff on relay fast over of HMV College autonomous status
The staff of Hans Raj Mahila Maha Vidyalaya are on a collision course against the DAV College Management Committee's move to get autonomous status for the campus.
The unit of Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers' Union in the college, which has been on the protest mode for the past more than a week, has started a chain hunger strike. While the staff are performing all academic duties and shall also do examination duties from tomorrow, they have been holding two-hour sit-ins on the campus. Candlelight marches opposing the autonomy proposal have also been carried out.
At a national rally held yesterday in Delhi by the All-India Federation of University and College Teachers' Unions, autonomy was criticised as being detrimental to the development of education and student welfare. It was stated that autonomy would increase the financial burden on students while reducing transparency in policy implementation. The speakers warned that privatisation would diminish the social accountability of educational institutions.
The five staff members who were on hunger strike included Assistant Professors Sushil Kumar, Dr Shalindra Kumar, Protima Mander (executive member of the HMV unit), Lovleen Kaur and Harpreet Kaur. The members said the protest would continue until the decision regarding autonomy is revoked in the DAV College Management Committee meeting scheduled for May 4 in Delhi.
HMV College Principal Dr Ajay Sareen said, "The staff have been misguided. They are made to believe that there will be a change in their service rules, which will not be the case. A perception is also being made that the college will not get grants upon acquiring autonomy, which again is a myth. As per National Education Policy, all colleges with a strength of more than 3000 students need to become autonomous and we are moving in the same direction. Autonomy will help the college become financially stronger. The results, which are not declared for over 4-5 months by the university, can be out within a month. So, it is a win-win situation for all stake holders including the students, staff and management".
