IEP Chandigarh, July 28
In a ‘dawn of new era’ in the state, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday gave a major relief to 12,710 contractual teachers in the Education department by handing over regularisation letters to them thereby fulfilling a major promise with the teaching fraternity.
In a function held at the local Tagore theater, the Chief Minister said that after assuming the charge of office he had laid thrust on regularising the services of these teachers by overcoming all the legal and administrative hiccups. Bhagwant Mann said that the motive was to ensure the secure future of teachers as he firmly believes that if the future of teachers is protected then only they can transform the destiny of the students. He said that the state government had made concerted efforts due to which this historic day is being witnessed today.
Striking an emotional chord with other employees too, the Chief Minister said that the problem of every employee will be solved for which the state government is already making all out efforts. Asserting that he is there to resolve all the issues faced by the teaching fraternity, Bhagwant Mann said that being son of a teacher he knew the problems of the teachers very well adding that he is duty bound to resolve all of them. He said that the state exchequer belongs to the people and every single penny will be judiciously utilised for the well being of every strata of society.
Citing an incident where life of a girl from border village was transformed by his strenuous efforts as an artist, the Chief Minister said that girl was facing severe hardships to pursue education but due to his humble effort she scripted new success story in life adding that if an artist can do this then the head of state can do much more. He said that it was unfortunate that these teachers had to work on meagre salaries and had to protest for their lawful rights due to apathy of successive governments. Bhagwant Mann said that even the workers under MGNREGA used to get more salaries then the teachers due to which he was peeved as it was an atrocity on the nation builders.
The Chief Minister said that this is not a favour on anyone but it is his bounden duty to serve the state and the masses. Bhagwant Mann said that he has been blessed that people of the state have reposed so much trust in him adding that he will make every effort to uphold this faith. He said that his government is making every effort to ensure the holistic development of the state and prosperity of its people.
The Chief Minister said that from now onwards the word contractual will be forever eliminated from before the name of these teachers. He said that every year a 5% increment will be given to these teachers along with other benefits including holidays. Bhagwant Mann said that in another historic initiative the state government has decided that the teachers will only render service related to teaching work and no other non-teaching duty will be assigned to them.
The Chief Minister said that the Union government had demanded 66,000 teachers for conducting the census in the state but he has clearly refused and asked the centre government to rather enrol unemployed youth for this purpose. He said that this will help the youth in getting firsthand knowledge of government work besides enhancing their resume. Bhagwant Mann said that such actions can be taken only by that person who is connected with the people at ground root level.
The Chief Minister said that the leaders living in the palatial palaces can’t take such decisions as they are not aware of realities at ground level. However, Bhagwant Mann said that though he does not possess such huge houses, the unflinching love and faith of people is his entire property and treasure. He said that when people of the state are with him then nothing else in the form of money and wealth is required.
The Chief Minister said the successive state governments had befooled the people by giving incentives in the last year. He said that these people had looted the people during their regimes and never bothered about their well being. However, Bhagwant Mann said that his government is working from day one to ensure the welfare of the people of state.
The Chief Minister expressed hope that these teachers will discharge their services efficiently for imparting education in the state. He said that the day is not far when due to joint efforts of the state government and teachers, Punjab will emerge as a front ranking state in the field of quality education. Bhagwant Mann said that a new revolution is being witnessed in the field of education and all of us are fortunate to be part of it.
