PHAGWARA: Teachers and staff of government-aided schools in Kapurthala district, who have been waiting months for their salaries, observed Teachers’ Day as a ‘Black Day’ to register their protest. C&V teachers have not received their salaries for nearly 17 months, while non-teaching staff have been without pay for the last eight months. Marking the day with black clothes, badges and ribbons, the protesting employees expressed deep resentment against the Punjab government.
A delegation led by district president Monika Sharma submitted a memorandum to SDM Phagwara Jasanjeet Singh, urging immediate release of the long-pending salaries. Speaking to the media, Sharma said that two aided schools in village Panshat, Kapurthala district, have not received any salary grants since January 2024, adding that the government must ensure a proper system is in place so that the salaries and dues of aided school employees are released on time without unnecessary delays. She stressed that if the government wishes to maintain quality education in aided schools, then protecting the dignity and morale of teachers must be considered its foremost responsibility. Several union leaders and school staff including district secretary Balwinder Kaur, cashier Kanwaljit Kaur, vice-president Sham Raj, principals Rita Thapar and Mamta Punj, along with Sukhwinder Kaur, Gurjeet Kaur, Seema Rana, Babita Bhandari, Shama Rani, Ramandeep Kaur, Swaran Rani, Manjit Kaur and Harinder Kaur were also present on the occasion.