PUTA elections: Jayanti’s team claims to be pro-teacher

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 17

Dr Jayanti Dutta, presidential candidate for the upcoming elections of Panjab University Teachers Association (PUTA), highlighted different facets of her election campaign, team, manifesto and other issues today.

“Our team is a diverse group of faculty members belonging to the entire spectrum of backgrounds, disciplines, political ideologies, age, designations and experiences. Each one of us is doing some kind of activism in his/her small circles. We are people with clear intentions and no baggage of hostility, vendetta, or hidden agenda,” she said.

Sharing the team’s intention to be in PUTA, she said, “PUTA is a well-respected platform of activism for faculty causes. It gives validation to our actions, a bigger impact and can reach several stakeholders in one go. Getting this platform will help us take our pro-teacher thoughts and ideas into actions, which can be implemented,” she added.

On being touted as a ‘Pro-VC’ team by the PU staffers, Jayanti clarified that her team was a pro-teacher. She shared, “For making our university a better workplace with ease of teaching/research and establishment we will fully cooperate with all players be it the Vice-Chancellor, the Senate, political representatives or civil society.”

“However, if intentional hindrances are created to thwart faculty welfare, we will have no hesitation to bring the full force of our community to fight the barriers. We have that conviction, capability and courage, which comes from our deep connection with community,” she added.

Stating that her team was different from the previously elected PUTA, she shared, “My team does not believe in taking the teacher community for granted. More involvement of community in all decisions/actions of PUTA is what we are aiming at. We shall also lay emphasis on use of technology towards transparent/fast governance. We will take evidence-based decisions.”

On priority issues, Jayanti is eyeing implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission, which she shared was a rightful due that had been delayed. “The community wants this to be taken on an urgent basis. Central status for the university is also on the cards. Already spearheaded by our seniors, issues will be taken forward by strategising on all fronts,” she said.

The team is also looking to ease the teaching-load. “Heavy teaching load due to less number of faculty has reached to an extent where our quality of teaching and research is impacted and faculty is feeling distressed. We will take this issue urgently,” she added.