Teachers hold ‘mashal march’ to FM Cheema’s residence

To protest the non-acceptance of their long-standing demands, which include the shifting of computer teachers from Punjab Information and Communication Technology Education Society (PICTES) to the state education department, protesting teachers from various districts today evening took out a ‘mashal march’ from the district administrative complex (DAC) to the residence of Finance Minister (FM) Harpal Singh Cheema here.

The protesters also staged a dharna near the residence of the FM and raised slogans in support of their demands and against the state government. Meanwhile, the fast by the teachers outside the DAC here entered its 47th day today.

The other demands of the computer teachers are: implementation of Sixth Pay Commission on the pattern of Punjab Government employees and financial assistance/government job to the family members of about 100 deceased computer teachers.

District president of Computer Adhyapak Union Nardeep Sharma said if their demands were not met by the state government soon, the teachers would organise massive demonstrations during the four Assembly bypolls to “expose” the government and remind the “false promises” made to them by the Education Minister.

He said they would also remind the promises to the other leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party. He said they had been performing duties in government schools for the past about 19 years but their services had not been recognised by the state government so far. He said in 2011 the SAD-BJP government had issued a notification, with regard to regularising their services with all benefits under Punjab Civil Services Rules, but that had not happened so far. Nardeep said they would continue their struggle until the state government implements their demands.