Ludhiana Agricultural University staffers take out march, observe pen-down strike

Members of various employee unions at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) here took out a protest march on Friday and observed a pen-down strike, alleging the state government had ignored their genuine demands. The unions announced a protest march in Mohali on July 17.

PAU Employees Union, PAU Teachers Association, PAU Fourth Class Workers Union, PAU Pensioners and Retirees Welfare Association, and PAU Retired Teachers Association were a part of the strike.

A large number of employees, serving and retired, gathered at the Thapar Hall on campus.

While addressing the gathering, Baldev Singh Walia, president, PAU Employees Union, and HS Kingra, president, PAU Teachers Association, said the agitation against the state government was aimed at pushing for their genuine demands, including release of dearness allowance on the pattern of the Centre, implementation of the Old Pension Scheme, revocation of central pay scales for employees recruited after July 17, 2020, full pay during probation, revision of pensions, regularization and removal of Rs 200 development tax.

They said the rally was also against the PAU authorities as they had not paid arrears as per the revised pay scales, which were due in April and have already been paid in many departments of the state government. The protesters claimed the PAU had not reimbursed medical bills after December 31, 2025.

They also slammed the university authorities claiming it was only paying 10 per cent contribution in the New Pension Scheme (NPS), as opposed to 14 per cent being paid by the state government. They warned of intensified protests if their demands were not addressed at the earliest.