Ferozepur: In a significant escalation, the faculty of four prominent state technical institutes in Punjab - Shaheed Bhagat Singh State University (Ferozepur), IKG Punjab Technical University (Kapurthala), MRS Punjab Technical University (Bathinda) and Malout Institute of Management and Information Technology (Malout), began a complete pen-down strike on October 21, 2024. This strike comes after more than a month of daily one-hour protests, all in response to the non-implementation of the 7th pay scales in line with UGC/AICTE guidelines.
Dr. Dapinder Deep Singh, President of the Engineering College Teacher’s Association (ECTA) in Ferozepur, expressed deep disappointment, pointing out that despite repeated appeals to Punjab’s senior politicians and bureaucrats, no action has been taken. He emphasized that while most government employees in Punjab have enjoyed the benefits of revised pay scales since 2021-22, approximately 250 faculty members from these technical institutes are still being denied their rightful dues. "The government's silence is deafening," said Dr. Singh. "We have no choice left but to resort to this strike, to register our protest and this strike will continue till their demands are not fully met."
The strike has brought academic activity to a halt, directly affecting thousands of students enrolled in these institutions. The situation at Shaheed Bhagat Singh State University is particularly dire, with employees not having received their salaries of the past five months. The university's Staff Welfare Association (SWA) also protested in form of gate rally during lunch hours, raising slogans against the Punjab Government. SWA President Jagmeet Singh voiced the association's strong support for the faculty's strike, calling for the immediate implementation of the revised pay scales.
As the standoff continues, students, faculty, and staff alike are feeling the impact of what has now become a critical issue for the state's technical education sector