Associate Teachers Protest Lack of Benefits Despite Regularisation

Demanding travel allowance, medical facilities and other entitlements available to regular employees

- HT Correspondent

LUDHIANA: Members of the Associate Teachers Front, Punjab held a symbolic protest on Sunday in the city, highlighting their unfulfilled demands, which they say have been ignored for far too long.

The protest led by state president Manpreet Singh Moga and Ajmer Singh Aulakh, had teachers' participation from various districts across the state. They claimed that while the Punjab government issued appointment letters in July 2023 and made them rejoin schools, the move turned out to be a mere formality.

"Though the term 'regular' was mentioned in the letters, the government did not include any of the rightful benefits such as proper pay scales, travel allowance, medical facilities, or other entitlements available to regular employees," they added.

Protesting teachers accused the government of wasting crores on publicity through advertisements that falsely claimed temporary workers were made permanent. However, the reality, they said, was just a meagre hike in salary, without any actual relief or recognition.

Protesters allege that repeated requests for meetings with the government have been met with indefinite postponements, leaving them disheartened.