The government teachers in the Tamil Nadu state who have cleared the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) in 2013 and Secondary Grade Teachers (SGTs), those hired temporarily in government schools on October 3rd in front of the Directorate of Public Instructions (DPI) campus in Chennai. According to the Secondary Grade Seniority Teachers’ Association (SSTA), who stated their terms as wanting permanent jobs and a solution to pay disparity, it has been over 10 years since the Tamil Nadu Government recruited permanent teachers, and
source: NewsClick
The teachers along with their family members have staged an agitation protest demanding the government to revoke Government Order 149 (G.O), passed by the previous AIADMK government mandating these candidates to pass another competitive exam to verify their eligibility. It has been nine days since the protest started and they stated that it will only end when the state government is ready to address their concerns and the chief minister speaks to them.
source: The news minute
The State President of the Tamil Nadu Part-time Special Teachers Association, K. Sesuraja, stated that six rounds of talks have taken place so far with officials from various levels in the School Education Department. He stated that “Office bearers of associations participating in the strike met School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi on Monday. We have been told that there are financial and legal concerns which are causing a delay in addressing our demands. While the school education department has assured us that they will look into our demands, we have asked it in writing to conclude the strike.”
source: scroll.in
He stated on Monday that the government has held three rounds of meetings and that he does not view this as a protest but rather a mechanism for teachers to garner attention, We have brought the current protest to the attention of the Chief Minister’s office as well. We have assured them that we will implement their demands in such a way that they do not lead to financial crunch.”
The Minister announced that they will assign a three-member committee consisting of the finance secretary, school education principal secretary, and elementary education director as per Government Order 25. “This committee’s recommendations will be finalized within three months and sent to the CM to take further decisions. We request the secondary grade teachers to accept this and attend the Ennum Ezhuthum training and continue to go to schools,” he said. The teacher’s organizations staging said protest have declined the offer saying they want the government to assure them of the increase in pay instead of saying that it they have yet to make a decision.
source: The Hindu
While some of the protestors went on a hunger strike, they decided to lay off on the decision after several of the protestors were hospitalized for health concerns. “We have been asking for permanent appointments but no steps have been taken by the State government in this regard. We are currently drawing a salary of ₹ 10,000 and have no other benefits,” Mr. Sesuraja said.
The government started hiring temporary teachers in the year 2019 with an 11-month contract but continued to extend it without any signs of a permanent contract that avails the benefits of being a permanent employee as per the labor codes of India. The teachers contended that the Ruling party in their 2021 manifesto had asserted that part-time art, music, and physical education teachers would be considered for permanent employment in the Department of School Education but this promise has not been fulfilled yet. The second-grade teachers have been demanding equal compensation for all teachers hired before and after May 31, 2009, and for there to be no inequality in the salary structure for more than 10 years.
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