SSA, RMSA, CSS Teachers Union, Ferozepur Unit organising protest march under the leadership of Rajdeep Sayanwala, Jaswant and Arpan Guruaharsahai.
Ferozepur, May 12, 2013: SSA, RMSA, CSS Teachers Union, Ferozepur Unit organised protest march under the leadership of Rajdeep Sayanwala, Jaswant and Arpan Guruaharsahai.
Speaking on the occasion Rajdeep, the union representative said, the Punjab Government has arrested the teachers in a very merciless manner at Bathinda by issuing the dictatorial order and at present 138 teachers are under lock up in Faridkot Jail. In the same jail, 5 teachers are sitting on hunger strike to register their genuine demands.
Giving a warning to the government, he said, in case the salary of last 13 months is not released and teachers are not released, the entire teachers’ community in Punjab will boycott the coming Zila Parishad elections and no teacher will be present during the elections.
The parents of the students also demanded to release the teachers without any condition so that the study of their wards is not affected. In this protest, BEd Front Sandeep Singh, Sanjeev Monga, Naresh Sandhu, Amit, Bharat Bhusah, Vinod Kumar and Vikas Momdot and others were present.
The union leader further said, the government is using the delaying tactics for the last four years despite making commitments and they have not been paid salary for the last 13 months. A big rally was also being organised at Bathinda in May this year, to register their protest where they were lathicharged and 54 teachers were put under lock-up in jails. A protest rally was held on May 5 during which a peace march was organised at Bathinda and 84 teachers were arrested and were sent to Faridkot jail.
The condition of the one of the teachers on hunger strike in jail is serious who has been admitted at Faridkot Medical College.
A retired educationist, Madan Lal, commenting on the state of affairs of education department said, “One can well imagine the plight of the families of the teachers who have not been paid their salary for the last 13 month. The future of teachers’ community is in dark and they are in a very awkward position. It is not understood as to why there is not a proper check over the expenditure of the government and austerity measures are only in papers. There is a need to minutely study the education system in Punjab to relief to the teachers, parents and students as well.