Jaipur: Vocational education teachers in Rajasthan govt schools Tuesday threatened to boycott upcoming municipal and panchayat elections over salaries pending for more than a year and their demand for a permanent service policy.Vyavsayik Prashikshak Sangharsh Samiti, representing vocational teachers, wrote to Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Sept 7, seeking immediate clearance of overdue wages and a permanent employment policy. The association said repeated discussions and assurances from the govt had failed to resolve their concerns.The teachers have demanded abolition of the contract and tender system and their direct appointment under the education department. They have also sought a regular and secure service arrangement on the lines of the “Haryana Model”, besides a permanent mechanism to ensure timely salary payments and resolve pending service-related issues.In its letter, the association said vocational instructors had been serving for years but continued to face uncertainty over employment and salaries.“If a positive decision on our demands is not taken soon, vocational teachers of Rajasthan will be compelled to democratically and peacefully boycott the upcoming municipal and panchayat elections,” the letter stated. It also warned of a statewide public awareness campaign to highlight their grievances.Association president Pawan Garg said the proposed boycott was not aimed at opposing the democratic process but at drawing the govt’s attention to thousands of families dependent on vocational education jobs.“Vocational education is a key component of the National Education Policy, yet teachers are being forced to work without pay for almost a year,” Garg said.