The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

CAMPUS
Teachers’ union threatens to boycott exams
Smriti Kak

Having resorted to strikes across the colleges in the city today the Delhi University Teachers’ Union (DUTA) has threatened to boycott examinations if the family of Dr M. N. Singh, who was shot dead in Swami Shraddhanand college is not compensated, at the earliest.

The DUTA called for a two-hour dharna today in all colleges across the city. The protest came in the wake of what they allege is the “insensitive delay” by the university in taking measures to rehabilitate the family of Dr Singh, who was shot dead by a former student in the college premises.

The teachers’ union has raised a demand for providing succor to the slain teacher’s family who was killed in a brutal shoot out by a former student, who had been reprimanded for cheating in examinations. “We want the university to pay the family an ex gratia payment of Rs 10 lakh, arrange for the early release of the funds that are due and also provide accommodation for the family”, said Dr Savitri Singh, DUTA Executive.

The DUTA vice-president, Dr Jaswinder Singh said, “We also want the University to make a change in the ordinance. Families of those teachers who are killed on duty should receive the salary that is due to the teacher till the time of his retirement apart form other benefits like a job to the kin and other monetary benefits.”

The DUTA has also called for a free and fair trial and has sought the punishment of the accused. “It is very essential that the accused be duly punished. The accused has openly admitted that there are other teachers in the college who can be targeted. We need to ensure the safety of these eyewitness also,” Dr Singh said. “The environs of Sawami Shraddhanand college need to be made more safe and conducive. Since the college is located on the outskirts there is a need to ensure proper safety,” he added.

The dharnas will be held between 10 am and 12 noon in all morning colleges while evening colleges will register their protest between 3 pm and 5 pm. A DUTA general body meeting has also been scheduled for later this month to review the response from the authorities and decide upon an appropriate course of action, if the response is found unsatisfactory.

Students march to VC’s office

Expressing solidarity with the victims of sexual harassment and slamming the authorities for their failure to take prompt action against the culprits, students and teachers today marched to the Vice-Chancellor’s office in Jawaharlal Nehru University.

The Students’ Union that organised the dharna accused University of failing to punish two faculty members, who have been found guilty of sexual miscount by the Gender Sensitisation Committee against Sexual Harassment (GSCASH).

According to the president of the Students Union, Rohit, “The GSCAH has already submitted its report to the VC and the authorities, still, instead of taking any action against the involved members, they are now questioning the GSCASH report and the suggestions made.”

The authorities have suggested that there is a need to seek ratification of the GSCASH rules by the Executive Council. “It is ironic that they are seeking a ratification of these rules where as students who have been found guilty of sexual harassment were rusticated following the report submitted by the GSCAH using these very procedures,” said Rohit.

The agitated students are demanding action against a senior faculty member for sexually harassing a foreign national, who is currently pursuing a language course in the university and against a staff member, who has been found guilty of making unwelcome physical advances by a female student.

“The GSCASH submitted its report in September and till date no action has been taken, the students who have filed the complaints are also being pressurised to withdraw their complaints,” rued Rohit.

The Union also alleges that the authorities are reluctant to take action because it involves a faculty member and a staff official. “The staff member is due to retire by the end of this month and if the action is further delayed the accused will walk away free,” Rohit said.

Meanwhile, the agitated students have threatened to approach the NHRC. “There will be campaigns against the injustice of the authorities and we will also approach the NHRC to intervene in the matter”, pointed out the president of the JNUSU. “From tomorrow we are also going to start a signature campaign in the campus and with the support we have from teachers, karamcharis and the students we are going to ensure that the erring teacher is at least removed on the basis of moral turpitude,” he said.

The GSCASH was set up in the year 2001 to organise programmes on gender sensitisation on the campus and ensure crisis management. Faculty members, students’ representatives, NGOs and academicians from outside the university are members of the society.

Courses for professionals

The Indian School of Petroleum has announced the launch of Certified Petroleum Manager (CPM), a one-year distance learning programme for working professionals in oil and gas sector. The CPM is specially designed for working supervisors, officers and managers having more than three years of work experience in the oil and gas industry. The course is divided into four modules of three months each and will offer contact classes apart from self-study material.

The programme was launched by Mr Subir Raha, CMD, ONGC. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Raha said, “An integrated understanding of the entire hydrocarbon value chain from exploration to retailing could be achieved through an academic framework for leading to a formal certification”.

Amity opens design centre

A scene at the launch of Amity-CADCIM Global Centre of Design Engineering.

Amity has launched the Amity-CADCIM Global Centre of Design Engineering that aims to provide for design engineers needed in the export market of software enabled services.

The project is a collaboration between the Amity School of Engineering Technology and US-based CADCIM Technologies. The centre will offer basic and advanced courses in design engineering.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof S. L. Tickoo, authority on CAD and CAM said, “Side effect of the great IT revolution has caused disillusionment among the mechanical engineers. But very few know that IT is now within their reach in the form of design engineering.”

A design laboratory has been established for the course and latest software has been installed.

Technology and Management

Lok Sabha Member Jyotiraditya Scindia expressed concern that the country is not making rapid progress in management and technological fields. Speaking at the fourth International Conference on ‘Management and Technology: Vision 2020’, organised by the Delhi School of Professional Studies and Research, Mr Scindia emphasised on the need to evolve systems to eradicate poverty and inequality.

Drawing attention to the way in which, villagers in his constituency Guna were being taught to use technology for empowerment, Mr Scindia said, “Prosperity should spread from every village to city and we must create appropriate delivery mechanisms for this.”

The Delhi Chapter of the National Centre for Quality management was also launched. The conference was attended by Prof K. K. Aggarwal, VC, GGS Indraprastha University, David Ross, CEO, Indelta, Dr Johari Lal, Director Personnel, ONGC.

IIF signs MoU with Uzbekistan

Indian Institute of Finance (IIF) has signed a MoU with the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Education, Republic of Uzbekistan and USTOZ foundation to promote education and research and organise seminars in the country.

The MoU was signed by the Minister of Higher and Secondary Education, Republic of Uzbekistan, Prof Saidakhror S. Gulyamov and Prof J. D. Aggarwal, Chairman, IIF.