Teachers open front against govt over regularisation of services

Turning the festive season into a season of protests, government teachers’ body Democratic Teacher’s Front (DTF) has criticised the state government and Education Minister Harjot Bains for their failure to resolve long-pending demands of promotions, regularisation and appointments. As activities, related to the by-elections to be held in the state on November 13 this year, pick up pace, zonal protests have been announced at Gidderbaha, Chabewal and Barnala by government teachers in three assembly constituencies.

In this regard, the DTF issued a statement, questioning the Punjab Chief Minister and the Education Minister for ignoring the demands of teachers for the last two and a half years. DTF district president Ashwani Awasthi said that pending regular orders of the Other Distance Learning teachers and 14 Hindi teachers of state cadre and failing to meet vacancy demand of the teaching faculties in the schools have long been ignored. “In several cases, the regular orders of deserving teachers were not issued despite the consent of the organisation in three meetings with the Education Minister. Implementation of mission capable, NEP based CEP away from prescribed syllabus throughout the academic year, silent elimination of thousands of posts from education department is education revolution or education waste policy?” questioned Awasthi.

Government teachers are also protesting against 15% less instalments of Dearness Allowance, cancelling notification of the old pension scheme despite announcement, removing rural allowance and border allowance for employees serving on distant posts.