Lecturers protest govt transfer to decrease retirement age
Amritsar, February 6
The district unit of the Punjab and Chandigarh Faculty Lecturers’ Union (PCCTU) right this moment once more took potshots on the state authorities over the slashing of the wage grant for academics.
PCCTU district president and state common secretary Gurdas Sekhon right this moment referred to as for dharna protests as school academics from throughout varied metropolis faculties, together with DAV Faculty, BBKDAV Faculty and others, joined them. A large two-hour dharna was staged by the faculty academics in opposition to the choice of the Punjab Authorities to decrease the retirement age from 60 years to 58 years for the academics working in non-government private-aided faculties of Punjab underneath grant-in-aid scheme. This strike was additionally supported by the Punjab Federation of College and Faculty Lecturers’ Organisations (PFUCTO), administration associations and the Principals affiliation.
A revision within the pay scale of college and school academics in Punjab was to be carried out in October 2022 after the delay of greater than 5 years, Sekhon mentioned. He added, “Clause 13 (ii) of the pay revision notification prompted a variety of confusion and concern as it’s being interpreted by the Audit Division that the retirement age of college and aided school academics has been diminished to 58 years.” He famous that no authorities within the nation since independence has diminished the retirement age or wage grant of any class of worker. “The Central Authorities retires its staff at 60 years. However, it seems that Punjab is transferring within the different path,” he rued.
PFUCTO district president Yadav mentioned, “In increased schooling, attributable to varied causes, similar to a rise within the variety of years for attaining the required {qualifications} to show in increased schooling, the UGC had first elevated the retirement age to 62 years, and later raised it to 65 years however there isn’t any justification for transferring in the other way and decreasing it to 58 years. This transfer of the Punjab authorities has compelled the faculty managements to alleviate academics on the age of 58 years and now it’s also resulting in pointless litigation within the courts inflicting hassle to all.”
Sekhon has additionally demanded that academics of non-aided faculties be handled the identical means because the academics of presidency. He pressured that they’re entitled to retirement advantages, similar to pension.