Teachers to hold protest today against non-payment of salaries

Teachers—from members of the Democratic Teachers’ Front to school Principals—who have not received their salaries for the month of June, will stage a state-wide protest tomorrow outside the Treasury Offices of their respective districts.

Disgruntled, the teachers claim that nearly 80 per cent of educators (running into thousands) teaching in Government Primary, Middle, Secondary and Senior Secondary Schools across Punjab are still awaiting their salaries. Seven days into July, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government appears, in their words, to be in no mood to release salaries, for reasons best known to them.

Speaking to The Tribune, Dig Vijay Pal Sharma, state president of one faction of the Democratic Teachers’ Front (there are two), from Moga, said teachers had given a call for protest demonstrations across the state against the government’s failure to release salaries.

“Most teachers in Punjab have not received salaries for the month of June. It is learnt that the Punjab Finance Minister has instructed that no funds are to be released from the Treasury until further notice. We believe the state treasury is empty and lacks funds to pay teachers. We will gather at district-level treasury offices tomorrow to hold the protest,” said Sharma.

Teachers will protest in districts including Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Mansa, Sangrur, Faridkot, Moga, Fazilka, Bathinda, Pathankot and others, condemning what they term the “apathetic attitude” of the state government.

Daljit Singh Samrala, president of DTF Ludhiana district, said, “How can we manage our households without salaries? There are monthly expenses which cannot be avoided. Many issues affecting teachers are pending. Instead of resolving those, the government has stopped our salaries without justification. Usually, salaries are credited by the 1st or 2nd of every month, but this time, even after a week, the bills remain pending in treasuries,” said Samrala, adding that nearly 80 per cent of the state’s teachers have not been paid.

Further, retired teachers and principals who superannuated on February 28 or March 31, 2025, are yet to receive their General Provident Fund (GPF), gratuity and earned leave encashment—payments that are normally cleared within 15 to 20 days post-retirement.

One retired teacher, who did not wish to be named, said he had postponed a trip abroad to visit his son. “I retired after 38 years of service and was waiting for my GPF and other dues. These remain undisbursed and I’ve had to cancel my visit. Pensioners are entitled to these benefits and delays disrupt our future plans. We are still waiting,” he lamented.

Ludhiana