Panjab University workers protest for regularisation

The Panjab University Class ‘C’ Staff Association (PUCCSA) staged a protest outside the Vice-Chancellor’s office on the university campus demanding regularisation of their services.

At least 300 Class C and field workers are yet to be regularised. Their figures will likely touch 1,000 with inclusion of the Class B contract workers.

Lal Chand, president, PUCCSA, said, “We have written to the university authorities numerous times, but each time they respond with hollow promises. Even after submitting a formal request to the Vice-Chancellor on January 16, we received no response.”

Some protesting workers have been serving on a contractual basis at the university for more than 25 to 30 years. “I have been working on university premises since 1991. The hope of becoming a regularised employee is diminishing with each passing day. In three years, I will retire with the same hope that I have carried for the past 25 years. It’s disheartening to see no progress despite our loyalty and hard work,” said Jyoti, one of the daily-wage employees. Radhe Shyam, the newly-elected president of the PUCCSA, claimed that workers would not back down until they received a written assurance from

the administration.

“We have had enough of empty words and false promises. Only a written assurance from the Vice-Chancellor will convince us to call off the strike,” he said.