Doraha: Teachers suspend evaluation work, demand UGC pay scales

Lovleen Bains

Doraha, July 9

The Punjab Federation of University and College Teachers Organisations (PFUCTO) has suspended the evaluation of university examination and demanded immediate implementation of the University Grants Commission (UGC) pay scales and regulations.

The federation gave an ultimatum to the state government to do the needful within two weeks failing which the university and college teachers will be forced to intensify the agitation.

In a meeting held under the chairmanship of president Prof HS Kingra, Dr Jagwant Singh, general secretary, PFUCTO, said said they have been forced to start the agitation due to the failure of the government to keep its promise of implementation of the UGC pay scales along with pay scales of the 6th Punjab Pay Commission.

He said Punjab is the only state which is yet to implement the UGC pay scales notified in November 2017 and the UGC regulations notified in 2018. It has also affected the implementation of the UGC pay scales in Punjab University, Colleges of union territory of Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh which adopts the notification of Punjab Government,” Dr Jagwant added.

Vinay Sophat, president, Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union (PCCTU), said as per the call given by the PFUCTO, the PCCTU has completely suspended the evaluation work to show resentment against the government and get their genuine demand implemented at the earliest. “It is a very sorry state of affairs. We are aware that the evaluation work, if suspended, shall affect the results of students but the government has forced us to resort to such a measure by backing away from its words,” he added.

Kuldeep Batta, district president, PCCTU, too expressed that a total of 23 states have already implemented the UGC pay scales. Punjab has been left behind, this despite the fact that 50 per cent of the share has to be contributed by the centre government. Punjab government has literally ruined the future of the teaching community. The new contractual staff, despite being doctorates in their subjects, are forced to work on meagre salary for three years. No teacher shall evaluate the scripts till the government accepts our demands.”

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