Jalandhar: Education department staff stage unique protest against Rs 31,000 monthly salary cut

Jalandhar: Education Department office employees, protesting a monthly salary cut of ₹31,000, staged a unique protest in Jalandhar today. Placing a ‘Fill the Punjab Government’s Treasury’ sign at the protest site, they declared their protest against a government that remains unsatisfied with the ₹31,000 cut in their allowances. The employees also held a protest march from the District Education Officer (Primary) office to the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Jalandhar, asking members of the public to fill the ‘Fill the Treasury’. They demanded the government reverse its decision to cut their salaries.

The employees stated that following a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on September 8, 2025, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and Education Minister Harjot Bains repeatedly instructed officials not to reduce salaries and to take a concrete decision, but Education Department officials ignored the government’s orders. Leaders of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Mid-Day Meal Office Employees Union said that if no decision is taken regarding salary cuts in the meeting with Finance Minister Harpal Cheema today, the employees will be forced to take action and protest at the houses of the Chief Minister, Finance Minister and Education Minister.