Teachers adopt novel way to highlight their plight

Ferozepur, October 6, 2018: Hundreds of contractual teachers, under the banner of Teachers Sanjha Morcha, on Friday adopted a novel way to protest led by Jagsir Singh Gill, District President and Amanpreet Kaur, Mahil Wing leader of SSA/RMSA Teachers Union, alleged delay in regularizing their services on full scales instead of 70 per cent cut, by presenting the ‘laddoos’ – sweets – made from mud and ashes, to local MLA Parminder Singh Pinki.

Amanpreet Kaur said, the Punjab government has decided to regularize the services of contractual teachers with 70 per cent cut on the existing wages they are getting, who are working for the last more than ten years in various schools in the state.  She said it is an anti-teacher decision for the teachers were recruited under the rules in a transparent manner but by making a big cut on their wages.

Jagsir Singh Gill, Distt President and Sandeep Sehgal, General Secretary said the Congress government before coming to power had clearly mentioned in their manifestos that all teachers will be regularized with full pay scale and allowances but the decision taken is totally different from the earlier decision.

Telling the tale of their plights, they said it would be very difficult for them to manage the budge of their families for them with the heavy cut in the wages, for three consecutive years and there is no guarantee that the new government, if changed, would accept the decision of the previous government or not.

Giving a warning of sacrificing of any kind, they said, the Teachers Sanjha Morcha will hold a massive rally at Patiala on October 7 and sit on permanent dharna and fast unto death.