Punjab, Chandigarh teachers stage protest over denying of UGC pay scales

Tribune News Service

Chamkaur Sahib, January 6

Demanding implementation of University Grants Commission (UGC) scales, a large number of teachers from the universities and colleges from Punjab and Chandigarh under the banner of Punjab Federation of University and College Teachers’ Organisations (PFUCTO) staged a march in Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi’s constituency here today. They had staged a similar protest in Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal’s Bhatinda constituency on Tuesday.

PFUCTO general secretary Dr Jagwant Singh said the protests followed their month-long ‘education bandh’, that has been continuing in the higher education institutes of Punjab and Chandigarh from December 1.

“The teachers are seeking implementation of UGC pay scales that are due since January 1, 2016, and against the Punjab Government decision to delink Punjab teachers from UGC pay scales,” he said.

The move would deprive the higher education institutions of the state of central grants and lead to multiple problems for institutions, students as well as the teachers, added Dr Singh.

PFUCTO president H Kingra said all other states had already implemented the new UGC pay-scales for teachers.

This action of the state government in denying revised UGC pay scales to teachers in higher educational institutions of Punjab, despite numerous assurances, defied logic, he added. Professor Kingra said when all other cadres of public servants had been given the benefit of revised scales, it was unjustified that teachers were being denied the same.