Kapurthala teachers denied leave, write to Punjab DGSE

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, July 16

Teachers in Kapurthala have written to the DGSE, Punjab, after being denied leave by the state government. While teachers and employees under the SSA/RMSA and associate unions were not previously bereft of certain leave being enjoyed by other teachers of the Education Department, they became eligible to these as per the new leave policy of the government issued on February 3.

Despite the policy been implemented across the state, the same is yet to be implemented in Kapurthala.

Teachers in a letter to the DGSE have stated: “New directions for leave policies were issued for SSA/RMSA contractual employees by the DGSE on February 3 this year but whenever EGS volunteers approach the DEO (E), Kapurthala, over the matter – their issues are not being addressed.”

“We were not getting earned leave, paid leave, emergency leave (20 days for women and 10 for men), maternity leave (six months with pay) and leave without pay, enjoyed by other teachers under the SSA/RMSA. But with the policy announced on February 3, we became eligible for it. Despite this, we are not getting the leaves which are being denied to us by the district Education Department even when the same are applicable across the state,” they said.

“When we approach officials here, they say these leaves are not applicable for EGS volunteers. The DEO should be directed to implement the new policy,” they added.

Deputy DEO, Kapurthala, Gurcharan Singh Multani, said: “We had received a complaint from the teachers. The issue has been brought to the notice of the BPEO. I have also asked them to meet me again. We will address the issue.”