Census, electoral works: Teachers await compensation

Union says they will protest if not paid before Eid.

GUJRANWALA:

Thousands of teachers who rendered services for the census and voters’ lists work have yet not been paid 10 months after the work, The Express Tribune has learnt. Teachers associations across the district are now threatening protest demonstration if they are not paid before Eid.

The Federal government had commissioned some 3,330 teachers from public schools in the district last year in September and October for census and preparation of voters’ lists for the upcoming elections. These teachers were paid half of the compensation six months later. They were told that the rest of the payment will be made to them in June and July, 2012. However, this has not happened.

An Election Commission official in Gujranwala, wishing not to be named, said the government had deposited Rs10.43 million in the commission’s bank account for the purpose.

Regional Election Commissioner Masroor Ahmed Bajar had directed 47 assistant registration officers in the district to prepare the list of the names of all the teachers. The list was submitted to the regional election commissioner within a week.

Primary and Elementary Teachers Association (PETA) Punjab Chairman Ahsan Ali Goraya said that the teachers would protest against the Election Commission and the government if the they were not paid before Eid.

“We fail to understand why they are holding our money,” he said.

District Accounts Officer Muhammad Khalid said his office was waiting for new cheque books to be delivered. He declined further comment.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 16^th, 2012.