Computer teachers hold protest march in Barnala

The relay fast by agitating computer teachers outside the district administrative complex (DC office complex) entered Day 54 today. The teachers said their demands include shifting of computer teachers from Punjab Information and Communication Technology Education Society (PICTES) to Punjab Education Department. They said they have been working in the government schools of the state for 19 years.

As the state government has not been listening to their voice, the computer teachers, under an action plan, have started opposing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the by-elections in four assembly constituencies — Barnala, Gidderbaha, Dera Baba Nanak and Chabbewal — to urge the state government to concede to their demands.

As part of their action plan, a large number of computer teachers on Wednesday evening took out a protest march from the railway station to the residence of Sangrur MP Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer in Barnala. They also raised slogans against the AAP-led state government. On October 25, they would hold a rally and take out a protest march at Chabbewal (Hoshiarpur).

The teachers said despite promises by the minsters and other leaders of the AAP, their demands have not been fulfilled by the state government so far.

They said the computer teachers had also not been given the benefits of the Sixth Pay Commission, like other employees of the state government. They said if their demands were not met soon, they would organise an agitation on a larger scale.