Finally, Sikhiya Bachao Manch to meet CM today

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, April 26

After a struggle of more than a month to bag a meeting with Chief Minister (CM) Captain Amarinder Singh, members of the Sikhiya Bachao Manch Punjab shall finally have the much-awaited meeting with the CM on Friday.

Having boycotted the Parho Punjab Project a month ago, the teachers had taken up the cudgels against the Education Department after a series of department team officials were disallowed by them from entering their school premises. The Education Department had issued notices to them for stalling the smooth course of government works.

Resulting in a stand-off, the teachers further toughened their stance after the notices, even announcing the summoning back of some of the coordinators meant to visit schools under the Parho Punjab Project.

The prime demands which the 50,000 teacher strong manch plans to take up with the CM on Friday include the regularisation of services of the contractual teachers, increase in the salaries of the teachers of the Education Providers Union, who are presently getting paid a mere Rs 5,000 per month, timely supply of books to schools – with a majority of the schools yet to receive the books, proper implementation of the Parho Punjab Project which they presently say is beset with discrepancies and anomalies, teachers not to be burdened with excessive clerical work as is presently being done.

While the Education Department itself has deemed the anti-Parho Punjab stance of the teachers an obstruction to the smooth running of the scheme, the unwavering stance of the teachers, however, created a crisis, which saw teachers refusing to relent regarding the implementation of the project.

Suicide threat by teacher, union livid

While the recent suicide by a Ferozepur-based teacher owing to meagre salary saw an intensification of the stand-off between teachers and the government, the incident has caused a ripple effect, with another Pathankot teacher on Thursday threatening suicide. The Pathankot-based teacher citing less salary (Rs 5,000) and deteriorating health also issued a release on Thursday, saying the government would be responsible for his death.

While the teacher’s home was visited by the police after the issuance of the note, following the police action, the union members at Pathankot also held a dharna.

A day ahead of their meeting with the CM, the union has also cited this to be another issue which they will take up with the CM.