The third day of the teachers’ protest saw large number of teachers gathering near collectorate and resorting to road blockage here on Monday.
As many as 1,900 teachers, including 1,100 women in Salem district and 1,832 teachers, including 1,113 women teachers in Namakkal district were arrested for staging protest near collectorate and Park Road respectively.
In Salem, teachers representing the Joint Action Committee of Teachers’ Organisation (JACTO) urged the government to fulfil their 15-point charter of demands. Their demand includes increase in their salary on par with Central government teachers, scrapping of Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) and others. When the police personnel attempted to arrest them, group of teachers blocked the road disrupting traffic on the over bridge. The police removed them and took them in 12 vehicles, including private Omni buses. Teachers said that the government failed to hear their grievance and would soon carryout a large scale protest.
In the absence of teachers in the schools, Block Resource Persons handled classes apart from special teachers and noon meal workers. Officials of the Education Department ensured that classes were engaged by teachers and students are not let free on grounds.
In Namakkal district, teachers gathered in large numbers on Park Road and staged protest. They were removed and taken in vehicles and lodged at marriage halls. Due to the protest, the road was closed for traffic.
