Teachers start ‘Larho Punjab, Bachao Punjab’ drive

Avneet Kaur

Jalandhar, October 14

Using the same rhyme as of Parho Punjab, Parhao Punjab, the Sanjha Adhyapak Morcha has declared an open fight against the state Education Department, motivating teachers to come forward and join its campaign ‘Larho Punjab, Bachao Punjab’ to show rage against the recent government orders of cutting their salaries by 65-75 per cent.

In a press note, the state convener of the Punjab chapter of the morcha, while using the same terminology as mentioned in the notifications of the Parho Punjab, Parhao project, has taken a jibe against the state government by saying “the manch has designed a state-level team and had conducted the baseline test of the state government on October 7 in Patiala.”

He said in the baseline test, the manch had found some fascinating facts about the state government, which under the influence of some teachers and ministers had decided to regularise 8,886 teachers recruited under the SSA/RMSA on the condition of cutting down their salaries.

Declaring to hold an all-night vigil prayer (jagran) outside Education Minister’s residence in Amritsar on October 16, manch activists said they would come up with one or the other plan and would hold as many protests or rallies but would end the same when the state government wakes up from its deep slumber.

Asking teachers to remain united and raise their voice against the injustice done to them, the morcha had also asked teachers to celebrate this Dasehra by burning the effigies of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and other education officials at their respective villages and district on October 18.

A teacher said: “We were already drawing low salaries, but now this massive pay cut was unbearable.

He alleged that Education Secretary Krishan Kumar had falsely claimed that the teachers were ready for this pay cut in lieu of regularisation, while we never agreed for the decision”.

He said: “We do not fear suspensions anymore as the government has already crossed all limits and we will not rest until this decision is reversed.”

Meanwhile, the activists said they had received support of several regular teachers and all teachers were united against the decision. They said the government could suspend one, two or three teachers but not the entire teacher fraternity of the state.

Burn effigies of CM, officials on Dasehra: Morcha

Asking teachers to remain united and raise their voice against the injustice done to them, the Sanjha Adhyapak Morcha had asked teachers to celebrate this Dasehra by burning the effigies of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and other education officials at their respective villages and district on October 18.