Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Wednesday held meetings with various teacher organizations of government and aided schools and discussed their grievances and demands in detail.
During meetings with the representatives of Computer Teachers Union, Punjab, Punjab State Aided Schools Teachers and Other Employees Union, and 3704 Adhyapak Union Punjab respectively for about one and a half hour, the Finance Minister gave patient hearing to the demands and issues of the teachers' organizations, most of which were regarding salary, pension and transfers.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister discussed the grievances aired by teacher unions with the officials of the Finance and Education departments and asked them to address these on priority.On this occasion, the Finance Minister directed the concerned officials to prepare a detailed report regarding the demands raised by the Union leaders.
He also directed the concerned officials to hold meetings with the union leaders when and where required so that the legitimate demands could be adequately resolved. Cheema also asked the finance department officials to prepare a report on the fiscal implications regarding these demands.
During these meetings, the Unions also handed over memorandums to the Finance Minister. Cheema assured the organizations that the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led Punjab Government has been taking initiatives to take the education sector to the new heights. He appealed to the teachers to support the government's efforts wholeheartedly to ensure that every student of the state should have access to the quality education.