Final chance: Contract teachers can now opt for regular service till Nov 30
PATIALA : The Punjab school education department on Saturday extended the date for Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) teachers to opt for regular service till November 30.
In a notice uploaded on the department’s portal, the director, secondary education, clarified that the contractual teachers who have not opted for regularisation till November 22 have been given the final chance till the midnight of November 30. They can apply for it online on the department’s website. Appointment letters to those who opt for it will be given up to December 1, stated the notice.
A total of 8,886 teachers recruited on contract under the centrally sponsored SSA and RMSA have been seeking regularisation of their jobs. The Congress had, in its poll manifesto, promised to regularise their services and remove pay-related discrepancies. However, its government kept deferring the matter, triggering protests.
On October 3, the state cabinet finally decided to regularise their services on a fixed monthly sum of ₹10,300 (initial of regular pay scale) with grade pay of ₹5,000 in addition for three-year probation period. The salary offered is roughly a third of what they are getting at present. The teachers rejected it and started a protest under the banner of Sanjha Adhyapak Morcha (SAM), a group formed by 26
THOSE OPTING FOR REGULAR JOB WILL GET ₹15,300 MONTHLY PAY FOR 3 YEARS, A THIRD OF THEIR CURRENT SALARY
teacher unions, in chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh’s hometown Patiala on October 7.
‘JOINING OUT OF FEAR’
A union leader, requesting anonymity, said around 3,800 teachers have opted for regularisation so far, of which 1,200 have joined service at ₹15,300.
“Most teachers have joined regular service because of job insecurity. Similar fears may lead to others opting for it in coming days,” he said.
Rejecting the offer, SAM state convener Devinder Punia said teachers will “fight the battle on the ground and in court as well”.
“The government does not have any legitimate right to regularise some teachers and leave others on contract despite being recruited under the same policy. The government and bureaucracy is acting like criminals,” said Punia, adding that the government’s decision is affecting the students’ future as well.
PROTESTERS UP IN ARMS
The Sanjha Adhyapak Morcha staged protests and burnt the effigy of Punjab government at all district headquarters across the state on Saturday.
Teachers alleged they were promised a meeting with education minister OP Soni when they had blocked the BathindaMansa road last week, but the minister declined to meet them on November 22.
The demonstrators said they will bock Patiala on December 2.
“Teachers have been protesting for the past 47 days. However, the government is not paying any heed to our genuine demands. The government is harassing teachers and want to hand over educational institutes to private hands,” said Amritpal Singh, state convener of the Joint Teacher’s Front.