Chandigarh. November 16, 2011. All the aided colleges of Punjab and Chandigarh observed a sit-in strike today on a call given by the PCCTU for the implementation of the already accepted and notified Act of pension and gratuity and other demands. The teachers who were joined by the non-teaching employees of the aided colleges of Chandigarh gathered in front of the office of the DPI (C) Punjab, in sector 17 and held a protest rally. The teachers are sour that despite assurances for over a decade and repeated meetings, the Punjab Government had failed to implement the provisions of the Punjab Pension and Gratuity Act 1999 as well as other rulings of the UGC.
Speaking at the rally Prof. Jagwant Singh, President of the PCCTU said, ‘The whole blame for the disruption of the academic session rests with the Punjab Government. The teachers have been forced to come on the roads as the government is not showing serious resolve to address the issue. The two hour long meeting of the office bearers with the Education Minister yesterday, though promising, in reality failed to deliver the expected results because of the several stages of the procedure suggested which would again cause needless delay.’
He added, ‘The Union has decided to intensify the struggle. The teachers will continue their full day protest tomorrow and later they will observe two-hour strike every day between 9am to 2pm till 24th November, 2011. And, if the government continues with its present approach, the forthcoming examinations in the colleges are also likely to be impacted.’
Prof. Ghanshyam Dev, President, Chandigarh District Council of the PCCTU highlighted the step motherly treatment being meted out to the non-teaching employees of the colleges who perhaps are the only cadre of employees in Chandigarh, yet to get the benefit of revised pay-scales from 1.1.2006.
Prof. Iqbal Preet Kaur and Prof. Rupinder Chatha, Presidents of the DAV College Teachers’ Union and MCM DAV College Teachers’ Union respectively, condemned the attitude of the Government and urged the Chief Minister of Punjab to immediately implement the pension and gratuity act. They also expressed their resentment against the Punjab Govt. for not accepting the UGC recommendation on age of retirement and relaxation in the date of refresher courses.
