PTC Web Desk: Thousands of Punjab government employees, teachers and staff from various departments gathered in Chandigarh on Friday to press for their long-pending demands, including the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) and the release of pending Dearness Allowance (DA) arrears.

The protest was organised in Sector 39, where employees from across Punjab assembled after taking mass leave from work. The large turnout affected normal functioning in several government offices across the state.

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Police use water cannons to stop protesters

After the rally, a section of the protesters attempted to march towards the Punjab Vidhan Sabha. The Chandigarh Police stopped the demonstrators and used water cannons to prevent them from moving beyond the designated protest site.

Heavy police deployment was made around the rally venue to maintain law and order. Earlier, the police had permitted employees to hold the rally but had made it clear that they would not be allowed to march towards restricted areas after the programme.

OPS restoration and DA arrears remain key demands

Employee unions said they have been demanding the implementation of the Old Pension Scheme for a long time. They alleged that despite assurances from the Punjab Government and notifications issued earlier, the scheme has still not been implemented.

The protesters also demanded the immediate release of pending Dearness Allowance (DA) arrears, along with the fulfilment of other employee-related commitments.

Teachers and employees take mass leave

Employee and teachers' organisations had already informed department heads and school principals about their decision to take collective leave to participate in the protest.

To avoid inconvenience, several teachers reportedly informed students a day in advance not to attend classes, resulting in disruption of academic activities at many government schools.

The protest also impacted the functioning of government offices, as employees from different districts travelled to Chandigarh to participate in the rally.

Employee unions have indicated that their agitation will continue if their demands are not addressed.