Members of the Joint Action Committee of Tamil Nadu Teachers’ Organisation (JACTTO) observed a fast here on Sunday to highlight their demands which included hike in salary and perks.
Inaugurating the fast, P. Manoharan, member of JACTTO State general council, said the government did not give them salary on a par with the Central government employees when the Sixth Pay Commission report was implemented in Tamil Nadu.
All perks being given to the Central government employees based on the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations should be given to the State government employees and the teachers too.
Mr. Manoharan said 50 per cent of the dearness allowance should be merged with the basic pay as the dearness allowance had crossed 100 per cent.
The government should fulfil the promise made by the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam during electioneering that it would implement the old pension scheme instead of the contributory pension scheme.
Services of the teachers appointed between 1986 and 1988 on contract basis and from 2004 and 2006 on consolidated pay should be regularised and timescale given to them.
A salary hike of six per cent should be given to the teachers working in aided schools without any promotion for 30 years. A separate scale of pay should be fixed for selection and special grade teachers, he demanded.
The teachers had to execute government’s 14 welfare programmes meant for students, and it affected teaching–learning activities. Hence, a welfare officer should be appointed in all high and higher secondary schools and a special officer for every circle for this work, he said.
Mr. Manoharan said the government should enact a legislation to ensure the teachers’ safety at workplace.
He also said the State-level Eligibility Test (SLET) for teachers should not be conducted and the teachers should be appointed based on their employment exchange registration seniority.
JACTTO office-bearers T.A. Charles Neil, S. Paulraj, S. Saravanan, K. Esakkiappan and others spoke.
Nagercoil
Similarly, JACTTO members observed a fast in front of the Collectorate here pressing for their 15-point charter of demands.
Inaugurating the agitation, P. Saravanan, member, State high-level committee, JACTTO, and treasurer, Tamil Nadu Primary Teachers’ Federation, said their demands included among other things payment of pension to all teachers, including vocational teachers, by taking into account their service on consolidated pay.P. Theagarajan, convenor, JACTTO, presided. S. John Ignatius, treasurer, welcomed the gathering.
V.L. Benin Devakumari, member of State high-level committee, JACTTO, and others participated.
Tuticorin
T. Sundarsingh, Tuticorin district secretary of JACTTO, led the fast. The fast was inaugurated by S. Krishnakumari, State women’s wing secretary of JACTTO. S. Samueldurai, JACTTO, district coordinator, and others attended.
