Chandigarh:- Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has taken a historic decision, which has put an end to the years of neglect faced by teachers in the state. He announced the payment of 36 months of salary arrears withheld during the tenure of the previous government to 93 teachers working in various government colleges including Baba Hira Singh Bhattal Institute of Engineering and Technology. This decision is considered even more significant because due to this salary crisis, a teacher committed suicide.
The Chief Minister held a special meeting and met the affected teachers and the family of the martyred teacher, assuring them of immediate relief. According to sources, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann held a detailed meeting with the affected teachers, listened carefully to their problems. The most painful moment in the meeting came when two children of the teacher, whose father had committed suicide due to salary and debt, were also present.
The Chief Minister personally met the family members and assured them of all possible help. The incident highlighted the neglected state of the education department and the plight of teachers across the state. Taking the tragedy seriously, Chief Minister Mann directed immediate action and approved the release of the outstanding amount from the finance department.
During the tenure of the previous government, the salaries of these 93 teachers were stopped for 36 consecutive months, which had a serious impact on the financial condition of their families. Many teachers were forced to take loans at high interest rates for their children’s education and family support. The uncertainty of salaries and mounting debt pressure pushed many teachers into mental stress and depression.
Experts believe that the loss of regular income can be a matter of life and death for anyone, especially when the entire responsibility of the family lies on one person. Teachers' organizations had repeatedly raised this issue, but the previous government did not take any concrete action.