Ludhiana, August 28, 2024: The protest by the Punjab Agricultural University Teachers Association (PAUTA) has entered its 7th day, with no resolution in sight. Despite being ranked as the number one agricultural university in India, the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) is witnessing an unprecedented protest by its teachers, who are fighting for their genuine demands.
Dr. Mandeep Singh Gill, President of PAUTA, expressed deep concern over the lack of action from the State Government and PAU Administration. “It’s ironic that our university is ranked number one, but our scientists are struggling to meet their genuine demands,” he said.
The PAUTA warned the PAU Administration that they will be forced to intensify the protest further if their demands are not met. “We are planning to block the entrance to Thapar Hall (the Administrative wing of PAU) in the coming days to force the administration to listen to us and resolve the issues with the State government.
Key demands of PAU faculty are:
1. Revision of allowances and gratuity
2. Payment of revised pay arrears from January 1, 2016
3. Withdrawal of basic pay notification and resolution of pay parity
4. Implementation of the old pension scheme
5. Revised pensions for pre-2016 retiree teachers
6. Payment of pending 03 DA instalments.
Dr. Gurmeet Singh Dheri, PAUTA Secretary, pointed out that the State Government has already notified revised allowances and gratuities for teachers of other State Universities, but PAU teachers are being denied the same. The PAU Pensioners Teachers Association is also supporting the ongoing protest, as the State Government has still not revised the pension of teachers of PAU and GADVASU who retired prior to 1.1.2016.
