Teachers’ protest enters Day 5, deadlock continues

Karam Prakash

Tribune News Service

Patiala, October 11

Though the indefinite protest by teachers associated with Sanjha Adhyapak Morcha entered the fifth day on Thursday, the deadlock between the protesting teachers and the Education Minister still continues.

Till date, no representative from the government’s side has approached the protesting teachers. Moreover, the protesting teachers said they were not ready for any dialogue with the state until they came up with main agenda. 

Hardeep Todarpur, a member of the union, said, “They (government) should either make an announcement or come up with some concrete agenda. Otherwise, the protest would continue irrespective of dialogue.”

3 more teachers suspended

Sources in the Education Department confirmed that the Education Minister and the Secretary, Education, were in no mood to bow down to the protesting teachers. On Wednesday evening, the Education Department suspended three more teachers, including co-convener Hardeep Todarpur. So far, eight teachers associated with the union have been suspended. 

Show-cause notice to nine 

On Wednesday, the Education Department issued show-cause notices to nine teachers after they reportedly raised slogans on a school premises. The department has given them 15-day time to explain why their services should not be terminated.

Sukhwinder Singh Chahal, state convener of the union, said, “They can’t intimidate us by issuing show-cause notices. We will intensify our protest in the coming days if our demands are not met.”

However, sticking to its stand, the Education Department opened an online portal for teachers to give their confirmation regarding the regularisation of their services on the monthly salary of Rs 15,300. On Thursday, hundreds of teachers carried out a ‘mashaal march’ from Dukhniwaran Gurudwara to the residence of Congress leader Laal Singh.

Dr Gandhi shows solidarity with PUCTA teachers

Patiala: City MP Dharamvira Gandhi on Thursday met the protesting teachers associated with the Punjabi University Contractual Teachers Association (PUCTA) and said they should be paid adequately.

• The teachers, demanding full pay scale, conducted various marches on the university campus.
• Expressing solidarity, Dr Dharamvira said, "This is very shameful that the teachers, who are training the future of our country, are being paid meagre salaries." 
• When questioned that the university had recently raised their salaries, he said, “Rs 30,000 is no pay for a college teacher. On the other hand, regular teachers are being paid over Rs 1 lakh. These teachers work harder than regular teachers. I support equal work and equal pay." He also met the university authorities over the matter.