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News of Promotion without Exams False, Clarifies DU

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Delhi University authorities confirmed that there has been no discussion regarding the promotion of first- year and second-year students without conducting examinations. All news regarding this has been falsified.

With the University of Delhi (DU) being closed, University administration has postponed their semester-end examinations in lieu of the Coronavirus induced national lockdown.

Meanwhile numerous have reports surfaced among the media, and student circles that, in a meeting of University officials with Vice Chancellor Yogesh Tyagi, proposals regarding promotion of first and  second year students without semester-end examinations had been discussed. But contradicting these claims, Professor Vinay Gupta, Dean Of Examinations, told The Quint, “No such proposal has been sent to the Vice Chancellor and these reports do not carry any substance.” He confirmed that the University definitely has plans to conduct examinations, though not in the immediate future.

He mulled that if needed, the University would consider shifting examinations online. “We see online examinations as the only way to conduct examinations, especially in times when students should not leave their houses. But the final decision can only be taken after committees report”, Professor Gupta said, referring to the committees formed by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Ministry Of Human Resource Development (MHRD) to analyse various possible scenarios.

Expressing disappointment at the University’s adamant stance on conduction of examinations, an undergraduate student, who did not wish to be named, said, “Many universities across the country have cancelled their semester examinations. Under such trying circumstances, it is best that we give foremost preference to our health and life before considering our educational conveniences. This is a once-in-a-lifetime situation.”

“As of now I have not been intimated by my superiors regarding the cancellation of examinations. Not holding examinations would mean giving the same Semester Cumulative Grade Point Average to each student, which is unfair in my opinion. Examinations should take place, whether after a month, or after a year”, said an Assistant Professor of Economics, on the conditions of anonymity.

Thus in the current situation, cancellation of examinations for any course or year is not in the picture. A definitive update shall only be announced after the committees give their recommendations.

Feature Image Credits: DU Beat Archives

Araba Kongbam

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News

DU Non-Teaching Staff Protest Demands Pending Promotions

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Entering the 10th day of protest on Wednesday, 9th October 2019, many libraries and labs of several Delhi University (DU) colleges remained shut as the staff protested demanding pending promotions since the past 20-25 years. 

Outside the Arts Faculty building, flustered staff members demanded the implementation of Recruitment Rules (RR). Earlier, a draft had been made in 2018 by a Comprehensive Committee for Delhi University (Non-Teaching) Recruitment Rules (RR) according to which staff members who have been working for a long duration to be given promotion after considering their qualifications. 

Sanjay Singh, President, Delhi University Library Association said to the Millennium Post, “No promotions have taken place for the staff associated with library and labs in DU from the past 20-25 years. These people have been working in the same post for the last two decades.” Allegedly, the University aspires to fill the posts from outside, thus, they are delaying the implementation. 

Around 700-800 members from DU are yet to receive their promotions. These include library staff, lab staff, clerics, assistants and senior assistants among others. Shalu, who has worked in the fraternity over the past 30 years quoted “All we are saying is implement the RR so that the staff can get their promotion. The authorities agree with it and are not denying it, but they have still not implemented the rules.”

The decision has to be taken by Tarun Das who is presently the Registrar, at Delhi University. Lokesh Kumar, Technical Assistant at DU also quoted to the Millenium Post, “We are demanding the implementation of RR rule that was filed by the Comprehensive Committee as soon as possible.” 
Feature Image Credits: DU Beat Archives

 

Anandi Sen

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DUB Speak

377 in and India Inclusivity Inc.

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This article traces the role of major corporations in navigating the changes that arose with the decriminalization of homosexuality. 

During the month of September in the University of Delhi, the rainbow flag’s ubiquity was evident in corporate advertisements, from billboards, to logos and tweets—all decorated with the rainbow symbol of defiance and acceptance. This raises questions about the role that these corporations played in a long-standing struggle, that is far from over?

With the scrapping of certain aspects of Section 377 of the Indian Constitution, came a wave of support from major corporations like Infosys, Google, Swiggy, Flipkart, Infosys, Uber, Ola, Google Pay, and IBM. In their fixtures and fittings, brands were adopting the rainbow sign as if it were ingrained in their social conscience. It was expected because legal recognition of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Queer, Transgender (LGBTQ) community rendered them as potential consumers, and shocking because the corporations had nothing to do with the said movement and its struggles. The companies coming out in celebration of the landmark Supreme Court verdict is applaudable, but it begs an essential question, yet to be answered—does this support hold any intrinsic value or sincerity, post legal validation?

Swiggy’s celebratory poster said, “Its not been a piece of cake, but we made it”. This was perceived by some members of the LGBTQ community as trivialising their struggles by implying Swiggy’s participation in it. Companies that had no role to play in the rebellion or the anticipation that led upto the judgement, adopted pro-LGBTQ ideals as a marketing strategy immediately after the verdict. Multinational Companies (MNCs) such as Nike and Netflix are far more open to proactively hiring and representing LGBTQ people (to the point where, a movie about the coming out experience is a blasé concept) than home-grown companies which might take longer to adopt it in the same way. The Godrej Group is one of India’s very few corporates to have well-defined, pro-LGBTQ policies, including benefits for partners, irrespective of their gender.

Barring Godrej, status quo sees the fate of this community confined within the cloistered settings of apathetic or inefficient workplace policies. The Kochi Metro case is a typical example of an ostensibly noble intention frustrated by the bitter reality of public prejudice. A few years ago, Kochi Metro Rail Limited, appointed 23 transgender people in different positions in its workforce. In the first week of their jobs, eight out of the 23 trans people, all of whom were trans women, quit.

A report by the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM-A), titled “Inclusion in India Inc.” stated that as many as 98% of companies surveyed said that they have not taken any concrete steps to make their workplace LGBTQ friendly or actively hire people from the community. Corporate influence cannot be understated in a mixed economy like ours and important issues revolving around individual identity, discrimination and safety shouldn’t be reduced to Corporate Social Responsibility events, Non Government Organisation donations, or seasonal social media posts.

 

Feature Image Credits: Swiggy India on Twitter

Nikita Bhatia

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Events

Huma Qureshi and Gurinder Chadha Visit Gargi to Promote Partition: 1947

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Two eminent personalities – Huma Qureshi, actor, and Gurinder Chadha, British director – reached the premises of Gargi College at 2:30 p.m. on 10th August 2017 and proceeded to the Auditorium immediately. Escorted by their bodyguards and the college’s student council, the two celebrities were welcomed with ear-piercing roars and claps as they began to talk about their upcoming move Partition: 1947.

After being introduced formally by the General Secretary, Huma proceeded to address the Gargi girls. She reminisced about her college days, classrooms, and teachers. She thanked her alma mater and her drama society’s exposure for making her who is she today. She also mentioned that she was a regular at Mithas and CCD across the street.

Huma, expressing her gratitude on working with the established British Punjabi director, welcomed Gurinder warmly to the stage to talk about her new venture. Huma stated that she chanced upon the director’s work in her time at Gargi through its Film Club. She aspired to work with Gurinder since.

The audience witnessed great camaraderie between the two women. At one point, Gurinder spoke fluent Punjabi while Huma fell short of words and started laughing. Gurinder complimented the actor, her talent, and her film character’s fierce strength and grit. It was revealed that the film Viceroy’s House, which has been renamed as Partition: 1947, is based on secret documents which were concealed for a period of 50 years from the public. “Being a mother, it is my duty to teach our children topics in an unbiased manner, which we are trying to accomplish with this film”, said Gurinder Chadha.

A dance performance by Nazzakat and Sparx, the dance societies of Gargi, was presented before the august audience that left everyone mesmerised. At the end of the performance, Huma and Gurinder joined in with the girls to dance on the latest version of Duma Dum Mast Kalandar from their movie.

The director also cleared the air when a question to her asked whether she has always done political films. She said that her films have dealt with political issues in the past such as racism and domestic violence but that this is her first direct film on politics.

In answer to another question, Huma revealed that she had dreams of studying at St. Stephen’s but the dream was shattered due to the lack of examination marks. Eventually, she took admission in Gargi, the college being nearest to her parents’ home. She felt blessed and grateful for coming to Gargi as it shaped her into the woman she is today.

Towards the end of the event, Huma asked the audience to tweet their pictures along with the movie tickets next week and promised to send an individual reply to everyone. The movie releases in cinemas on 18th August.

 

Photos by Kartik Kher for DU Beat.

Prachi Mehra
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News

Javedkar Announces that Conducting Research for Teachers is Not Compulsory for Promotion

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The Union Human Resource Development Minister Mr. Prakash Javadekar was addressing a gathering at Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College at a programme on higher education, organised by the Akhil Bhartiya Rashtriya Shaikshik Mahasanga (ABRSM).

Mr. Javadekar, on Saturday, said college teachers will no longer have to compulsorily conduct research to be eligible for promotions. Instead, they can choose to engage in a community or student-related activity, based on which they will be assessed.

“We are going to do away with the mandatory clause of research for college teachers seeking promotions,” Javadekar said. “An official announcement in this regard will follow soon. Instead of that, I want teachers to be engaged in student activity. We will make one community activity or student activity mandatory,” he added.

Mandatory research for college teachers has brought down the quality of research, Javadekar said. The research will continue to remain mandatory for university professors who guide M Phil and Ph.D. scholars.

Mr. Javedkar addressed the curse of “ad-hocism” prevalent in DU and promised “completing the process of regular appointments within a year.” He also insisted that long serving ad-hoc teachers compete in the recruitment process.

He promised that the 7th Pay Commission recommendations would be implemented for the teaching community “very soon.”

Some of the points of his speech ranged the bell of concern in the mind of teachers. He has made up his mind to introduce compulsory student feedback in API calculations for promotions. He has insisted to linking funding of institutions to performance. He made up his mind to introduce “graded Autonomy” for institutions. He has threatened to shut down the colleges that are not able to perform well as per NAAC and NIRF. He has made up his mind that Grant Funding of Institutions has to be replaced by Loan Funding through HEFA.

ABSRM, which has contributed an NDTF presidential candidate for the DUTA election welcomed the speech but DTF’s candidate is skeptical about the speech. He believes there should have been questions on Mr. Javedkar’s speech and should have tried making government more accountable.

 

 

Feature Image Credits: The Indian Express

 

Sandeep Samal

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