Punjab: Amarinder Singh Government Faces Wrath Of Teachers Following Decision To Cap Salaries Post Regularisation

Teachers in Punjab’s Patiala district took out a huge protest march to against the Amarinder Singh led Punjab government’s decision to fix the salary of teachers during probation period at Rs 15,000 post regularisation of their jobs, Press Trust of India has reported.

The march in Patiala, which is Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh’s assembly constituency, was taken out under the banner of the Sanjha Adhyapak Morcha and attended by teachers from across the state. They raised slogans against the Congress-led government.

The protest pertains to regularisation of 8,866 teachers who were recruited under central education programme which was approved by the Punjab cabinet on 3 October. However, those who are being regularised in the school education department would be paid Rs 15,000 per month for three years.

Sukhwinder Singh Chahal, state convener of the front report that the cabinet decision is completely unjustified. He was worried as to how he will provide for his family following the cabinet decision to cut his salary to Rs 15,000 per month from earlier figure of Rs 42,700.

The protest was also attended by the family members of the teachers, some brought along their parents and children.

The protesting teachers were also miffed about the decision to keep three years probation period for regularisation of their services as they are working for past eight to 10 years on contract.

The teachers were critical of the state education minister’s decision to suspend eight teachers who were part of the protest.