Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, November 17

Tense scenes were witnessed outside the residence of Punjab Education Minister Pargat Singh yet again today as Kacche Adhyapak Union (Contractual Employees Union) laid seige to the street outside the minister’s home, demanding the pre primary teachers’ exam to be scheduled to November 21 from the present date of November 28.

With elections nearing and the fear of the election code of conduct mounting among teachers, Education Minister Pargat Singh’s home has become a hub of protests by various irate teachers of the state.

While the exam was scheduled to be held on November 21, it was recently postponed to November 28, which hasn’t gone down well with teachers.

While the B.Ed teachers had already gone to meet Education Minister Pargat Singh in Chandigarh, members of the Kacche Adhyapak Union held a fierce protest outside the Education Minister’s residence today even as the minister’s home turned into a cantonment with hundreds of police personnel deputed.

Heated exchanges and even scuffle between teachers and the police ensued outside the Cabinet minister’s residence today even as teachers also alleged they were manhandled by the police and some also claimed minor injuries.

Teachers tried to push the human chain of police officials several times only to be pushed back. Women teachers, condemned being manhandled by male police personnel even as women police cops were present on the occasion. Teachers being apprehended by the police were strongly opposed by other teachers. They also in turn persuaded or tried to hold back police personnel who caught hold of their own colleagues.

Satinder Singh Kang, a Tarn Taran-based teacher said, “Sadi bharti rul jaugi je exam time te na hoeya. (Our appointment will be squandered if exam doesnt take place on time.) The Pre Primary teacher Exam was scheduled on November 21 (Sunday) but was postponed by the government abruptly. Now, it has been rescheduled to November 28. If the election code comes into place, our recruitments will be delayed yet again. They cited technical reasons but it is a matter of our future. It should be taken as soon as posible on a priority basis. Failing this, our enitre cadre will come down and hold dharna in Jalandhar. The minister has raised issues with ETT teachers on repeated protests outside his home. We dont want to do this, but the government doesnt leave us with a choice.”

He added, “The government had already released 8,300 posts of primary teachers for which we are thankful. But there are 13,000 of us. We also demand release of additonal posts as well so that all teacher may be covered.”

Another woman teacher said, “We have given 18 years of our lives to primary school teaching. It has been 18 years since we are making do with meagre salaries. Now our test is being deliberately delayed by the government. On top of it police has manhandles us. Our leader Harpreet Kaur was thrown very badly. Gents pushed us and twisted our arms. We have been making do with Rs 6000 for so many years. They have nothing for Teachers. Instead of ladies police, male police members pushed and pulled us. Why has ladies police been deputed if gents police will handle us.”

Contractual Employees Union said they would continue to protest outside the minister’s residence overnight.

Unemployed teachers to hold dharna on November 23

Meanwhile, members of the B.Ed TET Pass Unemployed Union today met the Education Minister at Chandigarh and they were assured by the minister that an advertisement regarding the recruitment for 9,000 posts of teachers will soon be released by the government as demanded by them.

Union state president Sukhwinder Singh Dhilwan and members Amandeep Sekha, Rashpal Singh Jalalabad, Gagandeep Kaur Grewal and Balkar Singh Mansa said even though the Congress government has been adopting dalaying tactics on our demand for years, yet we will wait for several days more.

The union members declared instead of November 18, now they will gherao the education minister's residence on November 23. They said the education minister has assured them of getting approval regarding notification regarding posts from the CM and the finance department. They also demanded that partial policy being adopted with social studies, Punjabi and Hind for the past some time also be done away with. The Contractual Employees Union will continue the protest outside the education minister's residence overnight.