PCCTU demands work-from-home amid COVID surge, threatens protest

Ravneet Singh
Tribune News Service
Patiala, May 5

The Punjab and Chandigarh College teachers’ Union (PCCTU) has decided to launch a protest for their demand for work-from-home during the surge in Covid-19 cases in the state. The Union claims it has been given a cold shoulder despite repeated requests to the higher education department.

PCCTU President Dr Vinay Sofat said the union raised its demand with the office of Secretary, Higher Education but the matter was sent to the Department of Home Affairs instead.

“This is while GNDU, Amritsar has allowed its teachers to work from home after consultation with secretary higher education himself.”

He added that the higher education minister Tript Rajinder Bajwa had also assured them of permission to work from home.

The teachers’ union also demanded that monthly grants of colleges be disbursed. He said, “Salaries of over 2000 teaching and 1500 non-teaching officials of 136 aided colleges have not been credited after February.”

Secretary, higher education, VK Meena said, “They raised their demands with our office. We have prepared a proposal and sent it to the home department. The Chief Minister’s office will take a decision on the matter.” He added that GNDU is an autonomous body that can take its own decisions.

Responding to the matter of salaries, Director, Public Instructions (Colleges), Paramjit Singh said the grants were not disbursed due to changes in budget allocation. “Also, some colleges have not submitted the grant utilisation certificates of last year which is mandatory. Now, we have decided to block the grant of those colleges and will disburse the grants of remaining colleges in a week.”

The teachers said they will wear black badges on May 5 and 6 as a mark of protest for work from home orders. “If no response comes, the agitation will be intensified further”, they threatened.