The programme began with the recital of ‘Ramdhun’ at 8.30 am after which the Deputy Dean Equal Opportunities Cell administered an oath to the gathering at Gandhi Bhawan. Vice Chancellor Dinesh Singh launched the Abhiyan urging students and staff members to undertake the task of cleanliness themselves without depending on civic workers. He further urged the University to continue the campaign every week if not every day, for full five years. The gatheting consisted of about 750 students and teachers. The Abhiyan concluded for the day at St.Stephens College.
South Campus also partook in the drive. In Motilal Nehru College, an oath was administered by the officiating Principal, Dr. J.N. Gupta, post which participants picked up a broom each and began cleaning the college. The bust of Motilal Nehru stationed in front of the gate was cleaned with water. A day earlier, a committee was formed to ensure cleanliness of the college throughout the year.
Lady Shri Ram College, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College and Kamla Nehru College were among the off-campus participant college. The environment society of KNC, Green Beans Society, projected a presentation on cleanliness while the Indian dance society presented a Kathak performance. The Vice-Principal recounted the importance of the day and assigned various duties to departments for keeping the college clean in their plan of action.
Meanwhile, Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) has accused the University of ‘maladministration’. The accusation came as a reaction to DU’s decision of cancelling a public holiday and making attendance compulsory for the cleaning drive. According to DUTA, the manner of issuing a ‘whimsical diktat’ demanding presence of teachers in their respective colleges on Gandhi Jayanti will reduce any serious effort to implement cleanliness to mere tokenism. The letter issued by the university administration included a copy of a letter from Ministry of HRD whose directions are, according to DUTA, “not ipso-facto applicable to university employees”.
Ishani Rajkhowa
ishanir@dubeat.com]]>
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