Notably, under the National Policy of Education, 1986, the School Education Department, Punjab, had appointed staff for DIET institutes in 1989 to strengthen the elementary education in the state.

While the salaries were to be provided by the Central government, the staff was to be made available by the state. The scheme gets 100 per cent sponsorship from the Centre and the Punjab government just has to make the plan for salaries and submit it in time to the Union government.

The Director, State Council for Educational Research and Training (SCERT), has been entrusted with the task of making the plan. However, sources in the Education Department said for 2005-06 and 2006-07, the government had not sent the plan to the Centre and the staff remained without pay from June to December during these years.

Earlier, the state government had provided some funds for salary.

Dharminder Raina, member of DIET Staff Association, said their salaries had never been regular since their appointment in 1989. He added that about five years ago, they had filed a case in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which ordered the Punjab government to regularise the pay of DIET employees. However, the Punjab government has not complied with the orders.