Computer teachers protest near CM’s Sangrur house

Computer teachers from various parts of the state today held a dharna in support of their demands near the residence of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on the Patiala road here.

The protesters, under the banner of Computer Adhyapak Bhukh Hartal Sanghrash Committee, Punjab, took out a protest march on vehicles through main bazars of the city. The march began from the District Administrative Complex and ended near the CM’s residence. The protesters then staged a dharna on the road. They also raised slogans in support of their demands and against the state government.

Computer teachers are up in arms against the state government and have been observing relay fast outside the District Administrative Complex here since September 1. Their relay fast entered its 85th day today. Their demands included shifting of computer teachers from the Punjab Information and Communication Technology Education Society (PICTES) to the state Education Department.

Nardeep Sharma, district president of the Computer Adhyapak Union, said they lifted their dharna near the CM’s residence in the evening after officials of the district administration arranged their panel meeting with Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains at Chandigarh on November 26. He said the officials also assured them that their file related to an increase in dearness allowance (DA), which has not been revised for the past three years, would be cleared by December 12, he added.

The other demands of the computer teachers are implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission and financial assistance/jobs to family members of computer teachers who had died during the service. More than 100 computer teachers had lost their lives so far, said Sharma.