A group of the Delhi University teachers on Friday submitted a letter to the Yogesh Tyagi, Vice-Chancellor (VC) to implement the
law to grant maternity leave to the adhoc female teachers of the university.
The Academics for Action and Development (AAD) submitted a memorandum to the VC after receiving a letter from the Aditi Mahavidyalaya for Women college, whose governing body in July this year had decided that maternity leave may be granted to the female staff in consonance with the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017.
“Thousands of adhoc teachers have been suffering on account of ‘no-maternity-policy’ for non-permanent female employees. Many careers have been jeopardised because of this policy. In many cases, women employees had to report to work very next day of child-birth,” said Rajesh Jha, member of Executive Council (EC), DU.
The varsity in the recently held Academic Council (AC) meeting decided to extended the quota of maximum maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks for ad-hoc teachers but reportedly the adhoc teachers (women) of the varsity do not enjoy the benefit because of improper implementation of order by the varsity.
Since the colleges are entitled to keep an adhoc teacher for a maximum of four months — a contract which is almost always extended — perpetuating the temporary nature of job permanently — the adhoc employees are granted only three-four casual leave during their stay.
“The matter also came up in the Academic Council meeting of the university last month, which could not arrive at any decision. There are about 2,500-3,000 adhoc women teachers in the Delhi University, who will be eligible for maternity leave if the decision is implemented,” added the officials.