CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Government has decided to revive the existing vacancies of 716 lecturers in the govt-aided colleges and their conversion would be allowed at the college level.

This was stated by Dr. Upinderjit Kaur Education Minister Punjab in a special meeting with representatives of Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union here Friday. Conceding to their genuine demands on the spot she also redressed the problems of staff affected by shifting of 10+2 classes from colleges by allowing them to teach ad-on courses in their respective colleges.

The Education Minister informed that the state government had initiated various steps to reform the education system by providing congenial atmosphere and infrastructure in educational institutions in order to promote qualitative education in the state so that students could face the challenges in the age of globalization. She stressed upon to work like a team with dedication and determination to impart good quality education and moral values so as to give impetus to the efforts of the state government being made in improving the standard of college education in the state.

On the issue of restoration of 95% salary deficits grant-in-aid scheme Dr. Upinderjit Kaur informed the leaders that she would sympathetically consider this scheme after meeting with finance minister which has been fixed for 6 th September and would impress upon him to restore this grant so that the rural colleges may come out of financial constraints as they were playing a vital role in providing higher education to the rural girls and poor students. She also assured that the anomalies in their pay and allowances would also be rectified soon and ordered the officers to immediately implement the unimplemented clauses of notification regarding Punjab Government pay scales.

Regarding the implementation of pension-gratuity scheme to the college teachers the Minister ordered the officers to work out modalities on various suggestions of the teachers so that it could be implemented after deliberations with finance department. She also agreed upon to provide the enhanced medical allowance by Rs. 100/- to the aided colleges also.