Computer teachers’ strike continues

While the farmers’ movement continued to grab public’s attention, the lawful struggle of computer teachers was also gaining momentum, claimed the computer teachers on strike in Ludhiana on Wednesday. The hunger strike of their fellow teacher, Johnny Singla, entered 12th day today.

The computer teachers in Ludhiana lashed out at the Punjab Government and leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for making lofty promises before the Assembly elections, only to abandon the teachers after being voted to power. The leaders said AAP representatives, who earlier considered their demands to be legitimate, were now “too important” to even meet them. No AAP leader or worker had come forward to listen to their grievances, rued the teachers.

They said there was a misconception among public that their struggle was to have their jobs regularised. In fact, their services had already been regularised under the ‘PICTES Society’ by the Punjab Government in 2011. However, successive governments, including the current AAP government, had not only failed to safeguard their rights but also started stripping them off the benefits they rightfully deserved, they said. The protesting teachers highlighted their plight, stating that they were denied basic benefits such as medical reimbursement, which had led to severe hardships. Several teachers have succumbed to illnesses due to lack of financial aid. While the previous government granted them the 5th Pay Commission benefits, the current government refuses to extend the 6th Pay Commission benefits to them.

The protesters further criticised the implementation of new CSR policies, which they claim contradict their regularisation orders and were tantamount to ‘death warrants’. They declared that their fight would not stop and that they were ready to make any sacrifice, which also included laying down their lives, if necessary, to secure justice.