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Ludhiana: The state government has allegedly failed to address several long-standing demands of the aided colleges in the state, prompting 136 colleges, 22 from Ludhiana, to submit demand letters to respective deputy commissioners across the state. The representatives from the colleges have also appealed for a meeting with the chief minister regarding the issues. Ludhiana district president Chamakour Singh said numerous issues are plaguing higher education in Punjab, and the AAP government has now been unable to resolve them.
The 7th pay scale , implemented by chief minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on September 5, 2022, is yet to be enforced in colleges, he said, adding that for years, files from these colleges have been lying in the DPI office without being cleared. District secretary Sundar Singh said despite repeated meetings with higher education department officials, the files remain on clerks’ desks. The DPI office had promised to clear pay fixation files by August 31, 2024, but this has turned out to be yet another empty promise.
Punjab University area secretary Raman Sharma has urged the government to increase the grant for the 7th pay scale, same as what was done on the 6th pay scale grant in 2009. Executive member Rohit emphasised the long-standing demand to convert unaided posts to aided posts in the colleges to reduce the financial burden on colleges and fill vacancies. Executive member Varun Goel pointed said that orders from the high court, 1,925 posts were filled in aided colleges.
However, the Punjab government tacitly reduced the grant for these posts from 95% to 75%, which was a significant blow to higher education in the state, he said. “As a result, aided colleges are now under financial strain, causing professors’ salaries to be delayed for months. Therefore, we appeal to the AAP government to restore the grant to 95% and a go-ahead for the remaining vacancies among the 1,925 posts,” he said.
Executive member Aditi said that the AAP government should ensure parity in higher education by filling professor positions in aided colleges just like in government colleges and implement child-care leave. District president Chamakour Singh said the AAP government’s decision to reduce the principal’s age limit from 60 to 58 years is adversely affecting at the ground level, as no experienced teachers are willing to take up the post, impacting college performance. “The age limit for principals should be restored to 60,” he said, adding that they appeal to the CM Bhagwant Singh Mann to rectify the DPI office’s performance, lest it tarnishes the government’s reputation.
Speaking on these issues, the Punjab and Chandigarh Colleges Teachers’ Union (PCCCTU) has prepared for a prolonged struggle. “If the AAP government does not resolve the issues, the struggle will intensify,” PCCCTU members said. They announced that a candle march will be held in Ludhiana on October 28, 2024, and a state-level protest will be organised at the DPI office in Mohali on November 6, 2024.
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