Exams postponed, holidays rescheduled, teaching and research stalled - Five state universities and nearly 200 colleges in Punjab and Chandigarh have come to a complete standstill as the second phase of the teachers' strike that began on November 30 concluded on November 30. Days till Wednesday. Punjab has five state universities Punjab University (Chandigarh), Punjabi University, Guru Nanak Dev University (Amritsar), Punjab Agricultural University (Ludhiana) and Guru Ang ad Dev Veterinary and Animal Science University (Ludhiana) and about 200 colleges Teachers are on strike in Punjab and the Union Territory of Chandigarh (including government and colleges) demanding the implementation of the UGC's Seventh Pay Commission, which they say will be implemented across the country except Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh. Has been done.
In Punjab, they are protesting against the Channeled state Congress government for not implementing the revised pay scales. In protest, teachers have also boycotted examinations, forcing universities and colleges to reschedule their holidays and postpone examinations. Teaching and research have also come to a standstill since the first phase of the dharma began on September 5 (Teachers' Day) this year. The number of protesting teachers in the universities and colleges of Punjab and Chandigarh is estimated to be between 8000 and 10,000. They are boycotting all academic, sports, cultural and examination activities under the 'Shikhar Bandy' movement.
Dr Jagwant Singh, general secretary of the Punjab Federation of University and College Teachers' Organizations, said the first phase of their movement - which included a chain hunger strike and a 'total education bandy' - was launched. 5 September, which continued till 19 October. However, on 19 October, we had a meeting with Punjab Higher Education Minister Parent Singh and when he assured us of accepting all our demands, we called off the agitation after a chain fast of 45 days. However, it was a hollow promise and nothing was done on the ground. After that we started our protest again on 30th November, and it is going on. The teachers have boycotted the examinations, following which the holidays have been rescheduled.
He said that now because of the new restrictions imposed by the Delhi government due to Omicron, he has postponed his protest outside the office of All India Congress Committee, Delhi on December 31.
“We had planned a protest outside the office on December 31, but now we will hold a protest outside the residence of Punjab Congress President Navajo Singh Sadhu in Amritsar. Also, on January 3, a state-level protest will be held in Mona, where Rahul Gandhi will go. At least four times, our demands have been discussed in Punjab cabinet meetings, but nothing has been done,” he said.
Singh said that on 1st December, Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana, President Dr HS King had started the fast unto death and ended it on 8th December on the assurance of Cabinet Minister Bharat Bhutan Ashy, but even then the promises were made were not implemented, Singh said.
The main demands of the teachers include the implementation of the revised pay scale of the 7th Pay Commission of the UGC and 'withdrawal of the anti-teacher decision of separating Punjab's higher education from the country'.
“The revised UGC pay scales which have been notified by the UGC vide its letter dated November 2, 2017. It has been implemented by all the States except Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh. Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh already have the practice of implementing the revised pay scale, when the Punjab government notified it. Since 2017, the Punjab government has been saying that they are committed to implement the pay scale with the Sixth Pay Commission. Sadly, the Punjab government failed to keep its promise. Now, even though Punjab Pay Scale has been implemented, UGC Pay Scale is not visible anywhere. This has also affected the implementation of UGC pay scales in colleges of Punjab University, UT Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh which adopt the Punjab government notification,” the teachers said in their letter to president Sonia Gandhi.
The letter further said: The decision of the Government of Punjab to separate the pay scales of new Assistant Professors of colleges and universities of Punjab from the UGC 7th CPC pay scale is a blow to us. This regressive move would cut Punjab off the mainstream of the national higher education system. Separation of Punjab teachers from the UGC would create many problems and the state would be unable to take maximum advantage of the central schemes and funds available for higher education. We have serious apprehension that UGC will cut Punjab's fund in near future because after delinting, Punjab will not follow UGC guidelines and regulations and this will cost the state approx Rs. 400-500 crores.
You must be logged in to post a comment.