The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

EDUCATION

CAMPUS
Unlike students, teachers make do with pamphlets
Smriti Kak

Pamphlets, posters and election speeches…Delhi University is abuzz with the usual campaign in the run-up to the elections for both the teacher and the student unions.

Unlike the students who believe in more aggressive campaigning and have been the focus of attention, the teachers have had it a little less smooth ride, what with longer work hours and less free time.

“It has been hard, but the candidates have been relying on discussions and pamphlets to reach out to the teachers in all colleges. Distances and less time were a hindrance, but they are nothing that we could not counter,” said a DUTA member.

While the students go to the polls in September, the teachers will be casting their votes on August 28 between 10 am and 5 pm in the Arts Faculty. Of the 8,000 and more teachers, about 6,800 have registered as voters.

Candidates on their part have been requesting the teachers to cast their votes. “I am requesting the teachers to come and cast their votes; each vote is crucial and it is up to the teachers to ensure that the best party and the candidate win,” said Amardev Sharma, of the Democratic Teachers Front (DTF), contesting for the president’s post.

Though the agenda is the same, the teachers point out that it is the approach that differs. “The third promotion, parity of librarians with the teachers, implementation of the 1996 pay revision benefits and restoration of professorship in colleges are on everyone’s agenda, but the approach is different,” said Dr Vijendra Sharma, former president of the DUTA and a member of the DTF.

Also in the fray for the president’s post is the National Democratic Teachers Front’s (NDTF) candidate, Prof N. K. Gautam, who claims to be fighting for the “nexus” between the Vice-Chancellor and the DTF. He is also against the academic reforms introduced earlier this year by the university.

The DTF, however, counters the charge of being a party to the “nexus”. “These people started a vilification campaign against us. They based their canvassing on lies, which make it propaganda and not campaigning. The academic reforms were passed at the time when Dr S. S. Rathi of the Academics for Action and Development (AAD) was the DUTA president, and now when the reforms have been implemented during Ms Shashwati Mazumdar’s tenure, the AAD is crying foul,” said Dr Vijendra Sharma.

The DTF also claims, “It is because of Ms Shashwati that more than 2,000 teachers have not lost their jobs. Her decision to defend the teaching positions when the UGC had notified the VC to cut down the surplus staff is a proof that the DTF has not failed under her,” pointed out Dr Vijendra Sharma.

As the teachers get ready to cast their votes, the four candidates fighting for the president’s post, which includes Aditya Narain Mishra of the AAD and S. C. Garg, and the 20 teachers seeking a post in the executive have their fingers crossed, first for a good turnout and then for the results.

Drive involving students against road rage

Hindustan Motors Limited (HML) has announced the launch of ‘HM RTV anti-road rage trophy’ to kickstart the first-ever anti-road rage campaign titled ‘Our Concern’.

The campaign has been launched in association with the Delhi Police and Wigan and Leigh College. The trophy is a way of involving schoolchildren in the fight against road rage. To make children aware of the magnitude of the problem, a painting competition in the ways of combating road rage will also be organised for students of classes 10 to 12. The three best entries will be awarded trophies.

BPCL wins young manager competition

The BPCL (Mumbai) team that won the 29th National Competition for Young Managers, organised by the AIMA, with jury members. Ms Malabika Chatterjee of Tata Steel, Jamshedpur, who won the Best Young Manager Award, is seen at extreme right.

BPCL, Mumbai, has won the AIMA-Tata Steel 29th National Competition for Young Managers organised by the All India Management Association (AIMA) here last week.

Tata Steel, Jamshedpur, and Tata Motors, Mumbai, were declared the first and second runners-up. Over 120 teams from across the country participated in the event.

Malabika Chatterjee form Tata Iron and Steel Co was declared the ‘best young manager’ for the year 2003. This year’s winners and the best young manager will be hosted for a week’s training programme by the Malaysian Institute of Management in Malaysia.

Convocation at Amity

Union Minister of Small Scale Industries and North-Eastern Region Dr C. P. Thakur and Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Ravi Shankar Prasad awarded graduate diplomas to meritorious students of the first batch of the Amity Institute of Information Technology at the convocation ceremony.

Speaking at the convocation, Dr C. P. Thakur said: “We need inventors and discoverers in our country, those who are leaders in both hardware and software. We cannot rely on importing and that is where this great combination of Indian culture and best education at Amity would help.”

Forty students were awarded graduate diplomas in information technology. Bhavna Goyal was awarded a cash prize of Rs 10,000 for being the best all-round student.

Special skill certificates were also provided. Suchi Nagpal was awarded a certificate for the best student in the CISCO regional network academy programme, Siddharth Bhutani was ranked as best software developer, Anjan Sarkar bagged the best programming skills certificate and Saurav P. Suri was adjudged the best communicator.

Addressing the students, Mr Ravi Shankar Prasad said: “Should I expect some Naraynamurthys sitting here? That’s what you have to become and take ahead India’s great entrepreneurial legacy.”

“Never forget your heritage because a leader divorced from his roots can never give permanence,” he added.