Agitated computer teachers from across the state held a state-level protest and blocked traffic on the Ferozepur Road for more than two hours today. Despite heavy rains, the teachers continued their agitation near the Bharat Nagar Chowk and raised slogans against the state government. The teachers are demanding regularisation of their jobs.
Addressing the teachers, Gurvinder Singh, President, Computer Teacher Union (contractual), Punjab, said, “The present Akali-Bharatiya Janta Party alliance has done nothing except giving false assurances. Though in their election manifesto they assured that the computer teachers would be regularised with full grade, more than a year has passed and the state government has not kept its word.” He further said Education Minister Dr Upinderjit Kaur has always sidelined computer teachers.
Manjinder Singh, Vice-President of the union said, “If the Chief Minister does not call the crucial meeting for fulfilling our demands within 15 days, we will gherao all the ministers of the Akali-BJP government. He said, “The government has been trying to suppress computer teachers through administrative officers. We will intensify our struggle if such tactics are used in the future.”
The teachers also met state Chief Parliamentary Secretary Harish Rai Dhanda and submitted the charter of their demands. “Dhanda has assured us to fix our meeting with Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal next week. So we have pinned our hopes on this crucial meeting,” Gurvinder Singh said.