Teachers, pensioners protest over long-pending demands

Expressing dissent over long-pending demands, teachers and pensioner unions from the district today staged a protest against the Punjab Chief Minister and the state Finance Minister during the CM’s visit to Amritsar.

Union leaders reiterated demands including the restoration of the old pension scheme, regularisation of all categories of contract employees and addressing the acute shortage of staff across departments.

Two days ago, the unions had burnt effigies of the CM following a protest rally outside the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Amritsar.

District conveners Gurdeep Singh Bajwa, Ashwini Awasthi and other union leaders said the Punjab Employees and Pensioners Joint Front had called for protests over the state government’s “failure to implement incentives and benefits as announced.”

Jarmanjit Singh Chhajjalwadi, executive member of the district unit of the Democratic Teachers Front, said, “The Chief Minister and the Finance Minister are repeatedly refusing to meet the employees or lend an ear to their grievances.”

He added, “The previous instalments of dearness allowance should be given on the lines of the central government, the Rs 200 zakat tax should be stopped, wages according to the pay commission should be implemented, and all allowances including rural allowance should be restored.”

Speakers urged the government to meet with the front and resolve the employees’ and pensioners’ demands, warning that “the next struggle will be announced by holding a meeting on August 29 in Ludhiana” if their grievances remain unaddressed.