North News
Chandigarh, November 7
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema has directed the Education Department to prioritize resolving legitimate demands of the Unaided Staff Front (Aided School) and other employee unions. The directive was issued in meetings chaired by Cheema, as head of the Cabinet Sub-Committee, held at his office on Wednesday.
During talks with the Daftri Karamchari Union, Cheema emphasized the need to address the regularization of school office staff, mirroring previous regularization efforts for teachers in 2018 and 2022. He instructed the Officers’ Committee to report on the issue within a month and urged the School Education Department to address pay anomalies. The minister also engaged with the Murr Bahal Adhiyapak union, ordering a review of dismissed teachers’ cases, especially where dismissals appeared unjustified. The department has been asked to expedite the process, including re-evaluation of the reasons for each dismissal.
The ETT Selected Adhiyapak Union, which called for lifting restrictions on posting locations, was informed that a portal had been opened to facilitate these changes.
Veterinary officers’ representatives raised pay and allowance concerns, prompting Cheema to instruct a meeting between the Principal Secretaries of Finance and Animal Husbandry. He also urged swift proposals to address demands from the Veterinary A.I Worker Union.
Additionally, Cheema directed the Director of Rural Development to consider block-level committees to address concerns of the Gram Panchayat Water Supply Pump Operators Association and to push for central training program adjustments to benefit all employees.
