Employees’ federation submits memo to CM over unmet OPS, reservation demands

Marking Constitution Day with strong discontent, the Gazetted and Non-Gazetted SC/BC Employees Welfare Federation (Kapurthala unit) has submitted a protest memorandum to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann through Phagwara ADC Akshita Gupta. The memorandum highlights the alleged continued negligence of the Punjab Government towards long-pending demands of the employees’ community.

The protest was held under the state-level call given by the federation. The Kapurthala delegation was led by district president Satwant Singh Toora, along with Manjeet Ghat, Lakhvir Chand, Gyan Chand Wahad and Deepak Sehgal. The action was taken under the overall leadership of state chairman Jasvir Singh Pal and Punjab president Kulwinder Bodal.

Speaking to mediapersons, the employees said the federation had repeatedly submitted memorandums to the Punjab Government and held multiple meetings with the Cabinet sub-committee. A comprehensive 250-page report — popularly known as the “Ganta Report”— was earlier prepared by Additional Chief Secretary Ramesh Kumar Ganta and submitted to the CM and the cabinet sub-committee. However, employees allege that the report has neither been implemented nor made public, raising serious concerns about transparency and commitment.

The federation’s 31-point charter of demands includes several key issues — implementation of the 85th constitutional amendment in its original form from June 1995, withdrawal of the “unconstitutional” letter issued by the personnel department in October 2014, merger of computer teachers into the Education Department, bringing Mid-Day Meal workers under DC rates, release of dearness allowance (DA) in line with Central Government scales, clearing backlog in all departments, restoration of the Old Pension Scheme as per 1972 rules, ensuring 40 per cent reservation in recruitments and promotions based on population, providing special transfer opportunities to lecturers appointed in remote areas in 2024, delivering on the promise of Rs 1,000 to women beneficiaries, implementing time-bound promotions and restarting several discontinued allowances, including ACP schemes.

Employees accused the government of deliberately avoiding dialogue and ignoring major issues affecting thousands of SC/BC employees across the state. They asserted that the federation had no option left but to intensify its agitation.

The federation also announced a major statewide protest on December 6 at Sangrur, where they plan to gherao the CM’s residence on the death anniversary of Bharat Ratna BR Ambedkar. Leaders declared that they intend to “wake up” the government, which they alleged had been “sleeping over the demands of the employees instead of resolving them”.

They warned that if the demands continued to be neglected, the consequences would be reflected in the 2027 elections.

During the submission of the memorandum, several prominent leaders were present, including Vinod Kumar, Satnam Gill, Desraj, Balwinder Nidharak, Kuldeep Kumar, Henry Fazil, Ajay Kumar, Jeet Singh, Ashok Kumar, Gurusevak Singh, Pawan Kumar and Sandeep Singh. District convener of the Old Pension Restoration Front, Parvinder Pal, was also present.