PT union members climb up water tank over joblessness
Ludhiana: High drama unfolded Friday when a few unemployed members of the physical training instructors' (PTI) Union, a woman among them, climbed up a water tank in a park in Jawahar Nagar carrying bottles filled with petrol, threatening to immolate themselves.
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They were protesting against the govt for not yet launching the recruitment portal of physical training instructors for primary schools.
Police reached the spot and asked the members, including two men besides a woman, to come down. The security staff also tried to tie a cloth to prevent injuries, in case they fell or attempted to jump from the tank.
The Unemployed 2000 PTI Union have long been protesting against Punjab govt's delay in initiating the recruitment process for 2000 long-promised PTI posts in govt primary schools.
They said despite announcements, the recruitment portal has still not been launched, leaving thousands of qualified candidates in a limbo.
They said the matter dates back to Dec 2021, when Punjab govt had released newspaper advertisements announcing 2000 PTI vacancies along with 5994 ETT (elementary teacher training) posts. The ETT recruitment process was completed and successful candidates have already been appointed in schools, but there has been no headway in PTI recruitment.
Candidates have not even been able to submit application forms, as the portal promised for the process is yet to be made online.
The union members said the cabinet had sanctioned the 2000 posts, and education deparment officials had assured them that the portal would open by May 7.
The PTI Union has threatened to launch a statewide protest, if the recruitment portal is not launched immediately.
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