Protesting teachers climb atop water tank in Dinanagar

GURDASPUR: High drama prevailed in Dinanagar as 10 Siksha providers climbed up a water tank near the bus stand on Sunday morning. They got down after getting assurance from district administration that a panel meet with state education minister Aruna Chaudhary will be arranged in Chandigarh on July 4. Dinanagar is the hometown of Chaudhary.

They are protesting against the non-payment of salaries for the past six months.

Aruna said, “The demand is genuine and will be fulfilled on priority-basis. I have talked to finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal, for release of salaries.”

The protesters, however, climbed up the water tank at about 5am.

Aruna said that these teachers were enlisted under a Central government scheme, which was later withdrawn, but the Punjab government will keep them. Deputy commissioner Amit Kumat said that he has sent Gurdaspur sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Skattar Singh Bal to the spot to control the situation.

The SDM said that he has deployed Dinanagar naib tehsildar Prem Chand as the duty magistrate. Protesters are demanding a meeting with the education minister. Punjab Siksha Provider Adhiyapak Union convener Chander Shekhar said these teachers are getting only ₹8,500 a month, and are demanding that the salaries be raised to that of regular teachers’, besides releasing the pending salaries.