Police rough up protesting inclusive education volunteers
Inclusive education volunteers, mostly women, were roughed up by the police during their protest here on Saturday.
Inclusive education volunteers, mostly women, were roughed up by the police during their protest here on Saturday.
The volunteers were holding a protest rally against the non-fulfilment of their demands. The volunteers, playing an important role in handling the disabled children in government schools, were also demanding a meeting with Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal.
A five-member committee also met the chief minister, who was in the Talwandi Sabo constituency of Bathinda on Saturday to hold a Sangat Darshan programme. However, the meeting with the CM proved futile.
Around 1,450 volunteers are working across the state on at Rs 4,500 per month salary for the last six years. Qualification for recruitment for the same was +2, however the union claimed that many of them are qualified teachers and should be accommodated under the Sarav Sikhiya Abhiyan. They are demanding regularization and a permanent job and minimum pay of Rs 10,000.
These volunteers work in government primary schools in villages. A cluster is formed comprising different villages. They teach at those centres where disabled students from various schools come to learn how to be independent in life.
A woman volunteer allegedly fell from the police bus while she was being taken to the police station after her detention from the protest spot near the Rose Garden in Bathinda. She was unconscious and was being operated at the civil hospital till the last report was filed.