NCLP draws a blank when it comes to paying teachers

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 7

Teachers working under the National Child Labour Project (NCLP), who educate children at brick kilns in remote areas, have not received their salaries for the last three years. They alleged that the government stopped the stipend for students after the Covid-19 outbreak in March 2020.

There are 39 schools in the district, in which 300 persons work under the NCLP. Teachers claimed that more than 2,000 students were enrolled with them in the district.

Jaswant Singh, one of the teachers, said they used to protest for their salaries before the Covid-19 restrictions. But now, they are not able to even hold a demonstration. The Deputy Commissioner had assured to write to the department concerned in this regard. Teachers hope that one day the government will release their pending salaries.

“The political parties in the state are issuing statements to uplift the Dalits in the state politics. Almost 100 per cent students in the NCLP schools are from Dalit background. If the Congress government in the state and the BJP government at the Centre are concerned about the Dalits, they have to release the salaries of teachers and stipend of students,” Singh said.

Teachers are now planning to stage a protest at the DC office to press the government to release their salaries.

About National Child Labour Project

The Centre provides teaching faculty at places where the practice of child labour or school dropouts are reported on a mass level under the NCLP. The district administration establishes schools to provide education to children at their doorstep. The schools under the NCLP help students in their rehabilitation as well. The administration sets up such schools for children of those labourers who work at brick kilns, industrial areas or are employed as domestic helps.