PATIALA: A large number of protesting teachers under the banner of Sanjha Adhyapak Morcha took out a protest march on Saturday evening up to the residence of Punjab education secretary Krishan Kumar. The protesters announced to hold protests outside the residence of all ministers of Punjab government on November 14.Before this they had observed their Diwali as Black Diwali. The union leaders claimed that already five teachers have faced suspension for participating in the protest and around 45 have been transferred. They have been protesting from last many weeks in front of Gurudwara Dukh Niwaran Sahib in Patiala Notably, the teachers, working under the centre-sponsored Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) schemes are currently working on contract-basis with a salary of Rs 40,000 to Rs 45,000. However, they have been asked by the government to work on a monthly salary of Rs 15,000 per month if they want to get regularised.SSA press secretary Gagan Ranu said, "We will continue our protest till the government meets our demands. We are protesting against state cabinet's decision of asking us to work on salary of Rs 15,000 after being regularised. At least 8,880 teachers working under SSA and RMSA are getting a monthly salary of around Rs 42,000 currently."

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