Punjab Aided School Teachers to Submit 'Blood-Written' Memorandum Over Unpaid Salaries
In a dramatic escalation of their ongoing protest, the Punjab State Govt Aided Teachers and Other Employees Union has announced plans to submit a memorandum "written in blood" to the government. This extreme measure aims to pressure authorities into addressing their long-standing demands, primarily concerning unpaid salaries and pension delays.
State-Level Meeting Called to Discuss Crisis
The union has scheduled a crucial state-level meeting on April 9 at Malwa Khalsa Senior Secondary School in Dhuri. This gathering will bring together union leaders and members to strategize and unify their response to the government's inaction. Key figures leading the charge include State President Gurmeet Singh Madnipur, State Secretary Sharanjit Singh Kadimajra, and Gurcharan Singh Chahal, State President of the Pensioners Association.
Allegations of Unpaid Salaries and Discriminatory Treatment
Union representatives have leveled serious accusations against the Punjab government. They claim that teachers and other employees in aided schools across several districts have not received their salaries for the last 11 months. Furthermore, they allege discriminatory treatment compared to government school employees, with pensioners who retired from aided schools still waiting for their Pension Payment Orders (PPOs) to be issued after several months.
"We have repeatedly urged the government to release our pending salaries, but our demands continue to be ignored," stated Gurmeet Singh Madnipur. "Teachers and employees of aided schools have been working without pay for nearly a year, which reflects the indifferent attitude of the government. If the salaries are not released immediately and pension cases are not cleared, we will be left with no option but to intensify the agitation."
Key Demands and Threats of Escalation
The union's demands are clear and specific:
- Immediate release of all pending salaries for the past 11 months.
- Expedited processing and issuance of PPOs for retired pensioners.
- Implementation of auto-parity for aided school employees, ensuring they receive benefits and pay scales equivalent to government employees.
If the government fails to respond positively, the union has warned of intensifying their agitation. Plans include organizing a state-level rally in Dhuri, the hometown of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, followed by protest marches across Punjab. This potential escalation underscores the growing frustration and desperation among the affected teachers and employees.
The situation highlights a critical issue in Punjab's education sector, where aided school staff feel marginalized and neglected. The union's decision to use a "blood-written" memorandum symbolizes their dire circumstances and the urgency of their plea for justice and financial stability.
