DTF to protest over

Ashwani Awasthi, the state finance secretary and district president of the Democratic Teachers Front (DTF), said the front would join government teachers across the state to hold multiple protests in the four districts where by-elections have been announced.

Awasthi highlighted several ongoing problems faced by teachers, including the pending regularisation of 14 Hindi teachers, the elimination of thousands of posts in the education department, a 15 per cent cut in dearness allowance, the cancellation of the old pension notification and the loss of rural and border allowances for employees working in remote areas. These problems have been raised by teachers for two years without resolution.

“The Chief Minister and Education Minister have only given us false assurances,” Awasthi said.

The leaders of DTF Punjab also confirmed that on November 17, the district unit would participate in a flag march organised by Punjab Employees and Pensioners Joint Front at Dera Baba Nanak.