Jalandhar: Education department employees will take mass leave on February 17

Jalandhar: Employees working under the Punjab Education Department have expressed anger against the government over the proposal to reduce their salaries from ₹50,000 to ₹19,000 despite completing 20 years of service. Sanjeev Kumar, district leader of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan/Mid-Day Meal Clerical Employees Union, and Varun Jain, leader of the Data Entry Operators Union, stated that despite repeated assurances from the government, neither have orders been issued to regularize them from April 1, 2018, nor has the decision to reduce their salaries been reversed.
They stated that the employees will go on a mass leave on February 17 and will surround the Education Bhawan and DPI office in Mohali. If no concrete action is taken on their demands, a protest march will also be organized to the Chief Minister’s residence in Chandigarh. They further stated that the cabinet, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, had decided on September 8, 2025, to regularize office employees working under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. Following this, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema also issued clear instructions to Education Department officials. However, six months later, the files remain pending on departmental tables.