Chandigarh, Sep 3 (PTI) Teachers working in universities and colleges in Punjab and Chandigarh will hold a rally and proceed on mass casual leave on September 5 to protest against the non-implementation of UGC recommendations on wages and other benefits. While teachers working in other varsities of the country have received 50 to 70 per cent of the revised UGC pay scale arrears, teachers in Punjab have not received "even a paisa", Dr Jagwant Singh, General Secretary of the Punjab Federation of University and College Teachers' Organisation (PFUCTO) said. He said more than 4,000 posts of teachers in universities, Government colleges and aided colleges are lying vacant, which has severely damaged the quality of education. Poor funding by the Government is causing salary delay in aided colleges and universities and Government is yet to fulfil its promise on pension gratuity scheme for staff of such institutions, he added. Besides, Singh said it is yet to implement the UGC recommendation on enhancement of retirement age, amend Security of Service act 1974 to provide better Security of Service to teachers working on unaided posts. PTI VJ RBL SPC
