Chandigarh 22nd February 2012 : Work in the seven govt. aided colleges of Chandigarh remained paralysed today. No mercy/condition tests or classes were conducted after 11.00 a.m. The Joint Action Committee of Aided College Teachers and Non-Teaching Employees of Chandigarh had given the call for this strike to express their deep resentment at the Chandigarh Administration’s discriminatory behavior towards them. The staff is agitating because even after many promises, the U.T. government had failed to implement the revised scales for the non-teaching staff. They held a rally at the D.A.V.College today and submitted a memorandum to Hon’ble Sh. Shivraj V. Patil, Administrator of Chandigarh after being stopped to proceed to the Raj Bhavan at the college gates.
Speaking at the rally Prof. Ghanshyam Dev, Convener of the Joint Action Committee of Aided College Teachers and Non-Teaching Employees of Chandigarh said, ‘It is a matter of extreme distress that the Non-teaching employees working in the Government Aided Colleges in Chandigarh are still awaiting the release of their revised pay scales w.e.f. 1.01.2006. The treatment being meted out to the non-teaching employees of the colleges is most disappointing and biased. They are perhaps the only cadre of employees in Punjab and Chandigarh, yet to get the benefit of revised pay-scales.’
Dr. Jagwant Singh, the President of the PCCTU said, ‘We have knocked at all the doors of the Govt. but have received only assurances so far. The revision of pay scales has been denied despite several orders regarding parity with counterparts working in Government colleges of U.T .The case was referred to MHRD, GOI. After lot of efforts the Government of India approved the implementation of revised pay scales (Fifth Pay commission) w.e.f 1.1.2006. The approval was given in Oct 2011. But nothing has happened so far.’
Shri Raj Kumar, Gen. Secretary of the Non-Teaching Employees Federation of Chandigarh added, ‘At present, even after four months, the file is still shuttling between the Education Department and the Finance Department, and now to our dismay the AD has surrendered more than Rs. 3 crores which was provided in the Budget for the purpose. It is also obvious that the amount will not be provided for in the Budget for 2012-13. This has completely baffled us.’
Shri R.K. Sharma, President of the Non-Teaching Employees Federation of Chandigarh said, ‘We have to struggle every time for pay scales and allowances. The inordinate delay is thrusting an agitation upon us. Under the circumstances we have been constrained to once again strike work at this very crucial juncture when students are preparing for their final exams. If the Govt. fails to implement the revised scales soon then it should be ready for the consequences.’
Dr. A.K. Nanda, the officiating Principal of the D.A.V.College appealed to the Chandigarh Administration to address the genuine demand of the non-teaching staff at the earliest. Meanwhile it was announced at the rally that the JAC would again strike work on Feb 27 after 12.00 noon and court arrest on March 3 if their demands were not met.
