Chandigarh, August 19
Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh assured full support in addressing the issues faced by teachers of aided schools in the state, emphasizing their significant contribution to the development of education in Punjab. Speaking during a meeting with a delegation from the Punjab State Government Aided School Teachers and Other Employees Union, Dr. Singh, a former student of an aided school himself, pledged to take all possible steps to resolve their concerns.
The Punjab government’s Cabinet Sub-Committee has scheduled a joint meeting with the union on August 20, 2025, to address the grievances of aided school teachers, who have been awaiting their salaries for the past five months. The delegation, led by state-level leaders Harvinder Pal and Anil Kumar Bharti, under the guidance of union leaders including State President Gurmeet Singh Madanipur, General Secretary Sharanjit Singh, Patiala District President Principal Ashwani Madan, and Principal Ripudaman Singh, was accompanied by prominent Patiala social worker and Aam Aadmi Party leader Charanjit Singh SK. They urged the Health Minister to resolve the challenges faced by aided schools.
The three-member Cabinet Sub-Committee, chaired by Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, includes Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains and Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh. The delegation highlighted that thousands of teachers and staff in aided schools have not received their salary grants for the past five months. Although the Education Department has been providing grants to aided schools since 1967, it currently lacks an annual budget estimate, leaving teachers and staff struggling financially. The union also pointed out delays in issuing Pension Payment Orders (PPOs) for retirees, causing hardships for pensioners.
The union leaders reminded the government of its election manifesto promise to provide 100 percent salary grants to aided school staff, similar to the Delhi model, and urged the government to fulfill this commitment. They noted that since 2004, no new teachers have been recruited in aided schools, resulting in approximately 8,000 vacant posts. This has led to a decline in student enrollment. The union proposed that the government protect the salaries of all 1,400 employees in aided schools receiving 95 percent grants by transferring them to government schools. This would require only an additional 5 percent expenditure while providing experienced teachers with 25–35 years of service. Additionally, the employees’ provident fund of approximately ₹200 crore could be deposited into the state treasury and refunded upon retirement. The government could also utilize the services of around 150 senior officers and other staff from these schools in other departments.
The delegation included union leaders Anil Kumar Bharti, Harvinder Pal, Manish Sachdeva, Yatinder Kumar, and Sandeep Gupta, among others.
