Teaching nearly 170 Non-Govt. colleges of Punjab and Chandigarh as intensification of PCCTUagitation commenced today. The non-teaching employees have also joined protest to make a common cause on the broad issues impacting the interest of employeesand educational institutions. As a joint protest the issues concerningnon-teaching employees have been included in the demand charter. The maindemands are:-
(a) notification of the pension- gratuity scheme approvedby the then Badal Govt. on Dec 10, 2001 under the Act notified on April 26,1999.
(b) restoring complete parity in pay and allowances fornon-teaching employees with their counterparts working in Govt. colleges.
(c) lifting of ban on recruitment imposed in July 2005 andconversion of posts.
(d) release of UGC pay scale arrears.
(e) amendment of ‘Educational Tribunal Act’ to bring it intune with the Supreme Court judgment in TMA Pai case.
(f) adoption of UGC letter extending the date forcompletion of refresher courses.
(g) enhancement of retirement age as per UGC notification.
Dr. JagwantSingh, President PCCTU said the entire blame for disruption in the academicactivities lies on the door steps of the Govt. and particularly EducationMinister S. Sewa Singh Sekhwan. He blamed Mr. Sekhwan for ignoring the notesent from the office of Deputy Chief Minister S. Sukhbir Singh Badal on Oct 3. Hesaid it is now for S. Sukhbir Singh Badal to take note of actions of
Mr. Sekhwan for ignoring his note and creating road blocks in theimplementation of manifesto of Shrimoni Akali Dal, headed by him. He said theSAD-BJP Govt. should tell people, which of the promises made to in the highereducation sector in its manifesto of 2007 has been fulfilled.