Include computer teachers in Education Department: Punjab DTF

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 25

Democratic Teachers’ Front, Punjab state president, Vikram Dev Singh along with other members of the organisation raised the demand to bring computer teachers working in government schools under the Education Department.

Computer teachers are working in government schools for last 15 years. Their services were regularised in 2011 and the Civil Services Rules were implemented. Orders were also given to pay salaries as per the 5th Pay Commission, but later they were not given ACP. Now, that the Punjab Government has given the benefits of the 6th Pay Commission to the department employees, it has not been made clear to give these benefits to computer teachers. Ashwani Awasthi, Secretary, Democratic Teachers' Front

Secretary, DTF, Ashwani Awasthi said the Punjab Government should include computer teachers in the Education Department and release all kinds of departmental benefits to them.

DTF leaders expressed solidarity with the struggle of computer teachers and supported the demands.

“The leaders said computer teachers have been working in government schools for the last 15 years. The services of these teachers were regularised through the notification issued by the Punjab Government, School Education Department, (Education Branch-7) in 2011 and the Civil Services Rules were implemented.

Under the same letter, orders were also given to pay salaries as per the 5th Pay Commission, but later these employees were not given Annual Proficiency Scheme (ACP) under the Pay Commission. Now, that the Punjab Government has given the benefits of the 6th Pay Commission to the departmental employees, it has not been made clear to give these benefits to computer teachers,” said Awasthi.

Issues raised with AAP Punjab unit in-charge

State joint secretary of AAP’s intellectual wing and former president of Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers’ Union Prof HS Walia called upon the co-in-charge of AAP’s Punjab unit Raghav Chadha and apprised him of the problems being faced by the teachers working in universities and colleges of Punjab. The issues pertained to implementation of UGC pay scales, pension for teachers working in affiliated (aided) colleges, filling up of vacant posts in institutions of higher learning, leave encashment benefit for all teachers and scholarship/financial aid to meritorious and economically deprived students.

Prof Walia said UGC pay scales as per recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission had been implemented in all states/UTs of the country except Punjab, Himachal and Chandigarh (HP and Chandigarh follow Punjab in matters relating to pay scales). As regards to pension, it was communicated that pension and gratuity scheme for teachers working in aided, affiliated colleges had been implemented in all major states of India except Punjab. The matter hangs in balance despite the passage of requisite bill in the assembly in 1999 and Cabinet nod in 2001.

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