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Unemployed ETT-TET teachers accuse Punjab govt of apathy
It has been a month since five members of the ETT-TET Pass Unemployed Teachers’ Union, including three women, are sitting atop a water tank in Sangrur and demanding jobs from Captain Amarinder Singh-led Congress government in Punjab. The protesters alleged, “Captain is not understanding our pains.
It has been a month since five members of the ETT-TET Pass Unemployed Teachers’ Union, including three women, are sitting atop a water tank in Sangrur and demanding jobs from Captain Amarinder Singh-led Congress government in Punjab.
The protesters alleged, “Captain is not understanding our pains. He has turned a deaf ear to our issues.” The women protesters said that they are away from their families and spending nights top the water tank, “despite illness and constant worry” of their families.
‘WILL DIE, BUT NOT END PROTEST BEFORE DEMANDS ARE MET’
On a sunny September 4, five members of the union had climbed atop the water tank demanding jobs. Since then, its been a month and they have faced the heat, rain and now cold while sitting on protest atop the water tank.
The women protesters said, “Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh, and Nanhi Chhaan patron and Union food processing minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal should have taken up the matter, but they are not paying any heed to our genuine demands.”
“Before this, I had never spent a single night outside my house. And now, it has been a month since I am holding a protest atop this water tank. My family is worried about my health and my career, but the CM is mum over the entire matter. He is still not ready to address our concerns,” said 22-year-old protester, Gurpreet Kaur.
“Many women are agitating in demand of employment. Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal should have come here to check on us and see how we are living under miserable conditions and facing health issues and depression. But she too has not heard our pleas,” she added.
As the weather conditions are changing, the protesters claimed that are reportedly suffering from skin problems.
“The change in weather and rain is causing skin irritations and other diseases. The state government has not sent any doctor to check on us. We are suffering from a number of issues. But we are committed to the protest and our demands. We will die than calling off the protest before our demands are met,” said Jasvir Kaur, 22, another protester.
Apart from the five people who are protesting atop the water tank, hundreds of members of the union are sitting on a dharna below the tank. And four members are on an indefinite hunger strike — one at the protest site and three at the Sangrur civil hospital.
On September 22, the police had lathi-charged and used water cannons to disperse over 200 protesting members of the ETT-TET Pass Unemployed Teachers’ Union from outside the residence of state education minister Vijay Inder Singla.
Sangrur deputy commissioner Ghanshyam Thori said that the protesters held a meeting with the state officials on September 30, but the negotiation are still on.
