Protest over pay scales hits teaching in 184 Punjab colleges

Sanjeev Singh Bariana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 8

The ongoing ‘Total Education Bandh’ across 184 colleges of Punjab is affecting the studies of more than 8 lakh students. Teachers have been protesting for the past one week over the non-implementation of the recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission of the University Grants Commission (UGC). The affected institutes include five universities, 48 government colleges and approximately 136 government-aided colleges. Teachers are abstaining from work on a call given by the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers’ Union (PCCTU) and the Punjab Federation of University and College Teachers’ Organisations since December1. The permanent staff strength in these institutes is around 12,000. Some contractual teachers have also joined the protest and are abstaining from classes at certain places. Talking to The Tribune, Education Minister Pargat Singh said: “I have had several meetings with the protesting teachers, and agree that their demands are genuine. I have already discussed the matter with Chief Minister Charanjit Channi and have sent my recommendations to Finance Minister Manpreet Badal.

8 lakh students affected

• College teachers are abstaining from work for the past one week
• The affected institutes include 5 universities, 48 govt colleges & 136 govt-aided colleges.

“Education in our state is bound to suffer in case Punjab delinks its higher education from the UGC. I will again take up the matter with the Finance Minister after the Cabinet meeting tomorrow, and am hopeful of an early resolution to the problem.”

Meanwhile, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu today succeeded in persuading Prof HS Kingra of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, to end his indefinite hunger strike which he began a week back. Teachers, however, have decided that they will continue their agitation till their demands are met.

PFUCTO general secretary Dr Jagwant Singh said: “We have been complaining since 2016 about the non-implementation of the pay commission recommendations in Punjab, whereas it has already been adopted by all other states and UTs (except Chandigarh and HP).” Dr Amanendra Mann of DAV College, Chandigarh, said: “We do not want the state to delink higher education from the UGC. We fear that the decision will have a long-term impact on the facility for research grants, scholarships and fellowships being offered by the UGC.”

Besides, nearly 13,000 ad hoc teachers are also seeking regularisation of their jobs.