PHAGWARA: On the call of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers' Union (PCCTU) state unit, teachers from 136 aided colleges across Punjab protested against the state government's neglect of higher education by striking for two periods on National Teachers' Day and wearing black badges.
During the protest in Phagwara, Dr. Yogesh Sharma, President of the Kapurthala district unit, expressed deep concern, calling it unfortunate that teachers were forced to remind the Punjab government of its responsibilities toward higher education on Teachers' Day. He criticized Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for failing to implement the 7th Pay Commission scale, which was announced on September 5, 2022, yet remains unimplemented two years later. Dr. Sharma also raised concerns over the inefficiency of the Directorate of Public Instruction (DPI) office, claiming that old files remain untouched for years, gathering dust on tables without being processed. Despite numerous complaints to the Chief Minister, no action has been taken. Dr. Sharma warned that if the DPI department does not start functioning properly, a larger agitation will be launched.
PCCTU District Secretary Dr. Meenakshi Vinayak also voiced strong discontent with the government's policies, highlighting that, while 1, 925 posts in aided colleges were filled following a directive from the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the government simultaneously reduced the grant from 95% to 75%. This reduction, she stated, has placed a significant financial burden on these institutions, making it difficult to pay teachers' salaries. Dr. Vinayak demanded that the 95% grant be reinstated immediately to alleviate the financial strain on colleges