Channi in Jalandhar, unemployed teachers raise protest pitch

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, October 31

In a series of protest by the unemployed teachers unions, a large section of them today held a protest amid Chief Minister Charanjit Channi’s visit to the city.

Continuing their strike, unemployed teachers, Munish Kumar Fazlika and Jaswant Ghubaya remained seated atop a water tank, near the bus stand. On October 28, an attempt was also made by the unemployed teachers to lay siege to the residence of the Education Minister, where there was a scuffle with the police.

Teachers’ union to intensify stir

• The ETT (TET) Pass Teachers’ Union on Sunday protested against the transfer policy formulated by the state government
• The protests led by Amarjit Singh Kamboj, chief of the union, were held on the arrival of Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi in Jalandhar
• To push forward their demands, the protesters marched from Company Bagh and passed through Desh Bhagat Yadgar Hall to gherao the convoy of the Chief Minister
• The union leaders warned the administration that in case of any delay in the meeting, a protest would be staged again the Education Minister

When the teachers today tried to reach out to the administration and the CM’s convoy, a heavy police force deployed, inside the bus stand, prevented teachers from approaching the officials.

Union leaders Aman Sekha and Sandeep Gill said their struggle had been going on for the past four-and-a-half years to fill up a total of 18,000 posts of master cadre, including 9,000 posts in social studies, Hindi and Punjabi. The department is also running away from providing employment to unemployed teachers who meet all the qualifications.

As soon as the unemployed people blocked the Company Bagh Chowk in protest, the police blocked their way.

The union leaders said the CM had promised to accede to the demands of the unemployed as soon as possible. The agitators said the morcha would continue till their demands were met. Unemployed people blocked the Company Bagh Chowk for about four hours. On the third day of their strike, Nand Lal, Kush Kumar, Rajinder Kaur, Simerjit Kaur, Veena Rani went on hunger strike.