Punjab Federation of University and College Teachers’ Organisations (PFUTO) today held a massive rally at Sector 25, Chandigarh to demand release of UGC pay-scale arrears, pension scheme for staff of aided colleges as per Act of 1999, full pension on completion of 20 years of service, enhancement of retirement age to 65 years, filling up of vacancies in the all the universities in the all the universities and colleges, greater funding for teaching and research, filling up of key posts on regular basis, adoption of UGC letter on extension of date for completion of refresher courses and better service conditions for staff of unaided colleges. PFUCTO had decided to observes Teachers’ Day as ‘Demand Day’.The rally welcomed and honoured Prof. Asok Barman, General Secretary, All-India Federation of University and College Teachers Organsations (AIFUCTO), who have specially flown Kolkata to participate in the rally, Addressing the rally Prof. Asok Barman shared developments at All-India level on various issues concerning education and educational institutions. He said that Finance Minister Prof. Parnab Mukherjee and MHRD Minister Sh. Kapil Sibal are communicating with each other for the release of funds to the states to enable them to disburse pay scale arrears. He expressed shock that pension is not being paid to the staff of aided colleges in Punjab and Chandigarh. He said that Punjab is the only state amongst large states of India, which is not paying pension to staff of aided colleges.
Addressing the rally Prof. Harmeet Kingra flayed the attitude of Punjab Govt. towards funding of higher education and research. Dr. Jagwant Singh, General Secretary, PFUCTO stated that failure of the Punjab Govt. to fill up vacancies in the university system and ban on recruitment imposed in July 2005 has seriously damaged the edifices of higher education.
Prof. H.S. Walia, General Secretary of PCCTU highlighted the plight of teachers working on unaided posts and demanded corrective steps the by Govt. and Universities. Dr. Balwinder Singh, President, GNDUTA demanded immediate release of pay scale arrears. Prof. Jaipal Singh, President GCTA demanded that the on the pattern of Central Govt. Punjab Govt. should also pay full pension of completion of 20 years of service. Prof. Akshay Kumar, President PUTA demanded that the service condition of teachers in the entire university system, including retirement age should be the save Prof. Balwinder Singh, Punjabi University, Patiala thanked teachers for the support to the call. Teachers demanded that various Bill introduced in the Parliament in the name of reforms are anti-education and should be withdrawn.