Delhi Students, teachers protest against graded autonomy

Students and teachers took to the streets on Wednesday protesting against the graded autonomy granted to 62 institutions, calling it "privatisation of education". The march was organised by the Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) and Federation of Central Universities' Teachers' Associations (FEDCUTA). The teachers and students from Delhi University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Aligarh Muslim University, Banaras Hindu University and Tata Institute of Social Sciences were present at the march.

The Central government last week granted graded autonomy to 62 institutions, including central universities, deemed and private institutions. The autonomy would mean less interference from the government, but at the same time, it also means lesser funding for these institutions, which is what the teachers and students were protesting against.

The march that started from Mandi House culminated at Parliament Street. Addressing the gathering, CPI (M) leader Brinda Karat said that the education policies of the Modi government intend to end reservations in the higher education.

"This is done by those people who talk about progress in the society. The government is trying to destroy top universities and such effort will end social justice," Karat said.

Commenting on the autonomy given to universities, she said that autonomy given to universities is to ensure that they start courses that fetch more money and give reservation to foreign students.

The CPI (M) leader during the protest also demanded arrest and suspension of JNU professor Atul Johri, who is accused of sexually harassing a student, as well as restoration of the Gender Sensitisation Committee Against Sexual Harassment (GSCASH) in the university.

Congress MP Sushmita Dev and AAP MP Sanjay Singh also protested along with various students and teachers.

DU Students Union president Rocky Tuseed said the autonomy granted to universities was a step taken keeping in mind students from economically stronger sections. JNUSU president Geeta Kumari said that the government has appointed abiding V-Cs to ensure the reservation policy in varsities is abolished.

"Students, teachers and the youth are the country's opposition to the Modi government and we will unitedly defeat this anti-poor and anti-marginalised community government," said Geeta Kumari.