Education Dept employees protest en masse transfers

Tribune News Service

Patiala, January 10

To protest en masse transfers to far-flung areas, contractual employees of the Sarva Shiksh Abhiyan (SSA) scheme today protested near the Chief Minister’s residence. The protesters, along with their children, staged a sit-in near the CM’s residence for hours.

Protesters said the Education Department transferred them to far-flung areas of the state under the rationalisation policy. They had been working for over 10 years on contractual basis, however, the department never regularised them, protesters added.

Instead, the department transferred them to districts, which were around 250 to 300 km away from their houses, said protesters. It would become difficult to run their households, protesters added.

A protesting employee said, “The decision has been taken to harass us. It becomes very difficult especially for women to work in the far-flung areas. The government should immediately revoke transfers.”

Parveen Sharma, vice-president, SSA RMSA Office Employee Union, said, “Instead of filling vacancies, the Education Department has transferred employees to the far-flung areas.”

Meanwhile, protesting employees were given a written assurance of a meeting with OSD to the CM on January 12. However, employees said they would protest again if the meeting remained inconclusive.