Chandigarh, October 31
Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema, who also serves as the Chairman of the Cabinet Sub-Committee constituted to resolve employee issues, today held extensive meetings with 15 different employee organizations, including seven from the Education Department, as well as unions from the Water Supply and Health Departments, and joint organizations representing the common interests of employees, including the Theka Mulazam Sangharsh Morcha and the Purani Pension Bahal Sangharsh Committee.
The deliberations, which lasted for nearly five hours, were conducted to thoroughly discuss their demands and issues to find appropriate solutions.The concerns of unions related to the Education Department mainly revolved around anomalies in pay and seniority, the regularization of services, and the timely conduct of the Punjab State Teachers Eligibility Test (PSTET).
Finance Minister Cheema directed the Education Department to refer issues concerning pay and seniority anomalies to the dedicated Anomaly Committee. Furthermore, he instructed them to coordinate with the Advocate General’s office, the Department of Personnel, and the Finance Department to resolve matters related to the regularization of services and other service-related issues as soon as possible. He also issued clear instructions to conduct the PSTET at the earliest.
During the meetings with organizations such as the Theka Mulazam Sangharsh Morcha, Gram Panchayat Jal Supply Pump Operators Association, Contract Multipurpose Health Worker Female Union, United Nurses Association of Punjab, and the the Purani Pension Bahal Sangharsh Committee, the Finance Minister listened to the issues raised in detail. He immediately directed the senior officials of the concerned departments to resolve the issues that could be addressed at the departmental level. Regarding matters with financial implications, the Finance Minister assured the union leaders that many of their demands are already being considered sympathetically by the government.
Union representatives Balihar Singh, Hakam Singh, Jaspreet Singh from Theka Mulazam Union; Jasvir Singh, Sukhjeet Singh, Vikramjeet Singh from Purani Pension Bahal Sangharsh Committee; Kuldeep Singh, Parveen Kumar and Jagmohan Singh from Sarv Samagra Sikhya Abhian (Mid Day Meal) Daftri Karamchari Union; Rahul Kamboj, Jaswinder Singh and Harjeet Kaur from PSTET Union, Ranjit Singh, Rajesh Kumar and Onkar Singh from ETT Adhiyapak Union; Gurpreet Singh, Surinder Pal Singh, Parampal Singh from Punjab Sikhya Vibhag Manisterial Staff Association; Samarjeet Singh, Sukhdeep Singh, Harmal Singh from TET Pass Kachhe Adhiyapak Union; Tajinder Kaur, Tajinder Kaur, Rajwinder Kaur, Kirandeep Kaur from AIE Kachhe Adhiyapak Union; Beant Singh, Bohar Singh, Mehar Singh from Gram Panchayat Jal Supply Pump Operators Association; Sarabjit Kaur, Amrik Singh from Contract Multipurpose Health Worker Female Union; Arati Bali, Harwinder Singh, Baljeet Singh from United Nurses Association of Punjab and their colleagues presented their demands and issues during the meetings.
