More than six thousand teachers working in Panjab University, Chandigarh, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjabi University, Patiala, and 60 Government Colleges of Punjab and 160 non-government colleges of Punjab and Chandigarh proceeded on mass casual leave and held a rally on the occasion of Teachers’ Day at Chandigarh, to protest against the unjust policies and illogical attitude of the central and state governments towards higher education. The call for the protest was given by Punjab Federation of University and College Teachers Organizations (PFUCTO).
Prof. Rajesh Gill, President, PUTA welcomed the teachers from the state at the rally and expressed complete solidarity with the issues of the community.
Dr. Jagwant Singh, Gen. Secretary, PFUCTO said that the PM and CM were working in cahoots to irreparably harm higher education across India and in the state. He stated that after denying interim relief to university and college teachers, they were woefully silent on the implementation of the UGC pay scales, the appointment of regular teachers, regularisation of 1925 teachers appointed in aided colleges of Panjab after following the due process, as per the Punjab & Haryana High Court orders, and implementation of the pension scheme.
Prof B.S Tohra, President, GCTA, Punjab highlighted the pathetic situation in the government colleges of Punjab where the strength of regular faculty had fallen to a pitiable 520 with 1200 posts lying vacant. The system was being managed through part time and guest faculty teachers who faced lot of exploitation at the hands of the government, which was supposed to be a model employer.
Prof. Rakesh Sharda, President, PAUTA, stated that due to reduced funding by an indifferent state for agricultural research, PAU was unable to contribute in the field of agriculture as it used to do in the past. He condemned the appointment of assistant professors at a consolidated salary of just Rs.15, 600/- only during the period of probation. He demanded equal pay for equal work for the teachers.
Prof. N.S Saini, President, GNDUTA, stated that the reduced funding by the state, lack of regular faculty and exploitative conditions of ad-hoc and contractual staff had emerged as a major concern of teachers.
Prof B.V Sharma, President, PCCTU, demanded immediate regularisation of 1925 teachers who had been appointed following the due process and completed 3 years of contractual service as per the policy of the state. He flayed the Government for its failure to release salary grants in time.
Prof Jaswinder Brar and Prof B.S Tiwana spoke on behalf of teachers of Punjabi University and highlighted the critical financial position of Panjabi University and exploitation of teachers working in its constituent colleges.
Prof Asok Barman, former Gen. Secretary, AIFUCTO, who had especially come from Calcutta to attend the rally, expressed the solidarity of the teachers across the country with the struggle of teachers of Punjab. He flayed the government of India for its unabashed attempts to privatise higher education. He called upon the state govt. of Punjab to accept the genuine demands of the teachers that had been implemented in most other parts of the country
Prof J.K Goswami, Secretary, PUTA, Dr. Sukhdev Randhawa, Gen. Secretary, PCCTU, Dr Navprem Singh., Secretary, PAUTA, Dr Gurjant Singh, Secretary, GCTA, Prof. Balwinder Singh, Secretary, GANDUTA also addressed the rally.
