A large number of teachers struck work on Thursday in Tiruchi and its neighbouring districts in response to a one-day strike call given by the JACTO (Joint Action Council of Teachers Organisations) in support of their 15-point charter of demands.
They participated in a demonstration held near the Collectorate here raising slogans. Teachers from various associations in addition to office-bearers of the JACTO took part in it.
Merger of 50 per cent dearness allowance with basic pay, pay allowance on a par with central government teachers, repeal of teachers’ eligibility test and appointment of teachers based on seniority in employment exchange and implementation of Tamil as a medium of instruction from elementary to higher secondary were some of their demands.
JACTO members claimed that 90 per cent of the teachers working in primary and middle schools in Tiruchi district took part in the strike. Classes were affected in many schools due to the strike.
However, authorities claimed that 51 per cent of teachers in elementary and middle schools reported for work. The authorities made it clear that no school was closed in the district contrary to the claims of the JACTO members.
Attendance of teachers in high and higher secondary schools in Tiruchi district was over 90 per cent, the authorities said adding that only a few teachers working in high and higher secondary schools did not report for duty.
In Perambalur district, over 90 per cent of teachers working in primary and middle schools took part in the strike. However, a majority of teachers were present in high and higher secondary schools, sources said.
Majority of teachers in high and higher secondary schools in Ariyalur district attended duty, a senior education department official said.
Over 70 per cent of teachers in primary and middle schools participated in the strike, the official said.
In Pudukottai district, a majority of teachers of primary and middle schools resorted to the strike. Noon meal organisers had a tough time in preparing mid-day meals. A majority of 1,600-odd schools across the district remained closed.
In Nagapattinam district, classes were disrupted and about 2,900 teachers from 1,038 schools abstained from duty. As many as 1,300 teachers reported for duty. A group of teachers, led by Meenakshisundaram, district general secretary of the Tamil Nadu Primary Teachers Association, staged a stir in front of the Collector’s Office.
Thanjavur
The stir had its impact on schools in Thanjavur and Tiruvarur districts also.
Though the stir by the primary, secondary and higher secondary school teachers and head masters failed to shut schools for the day, teaching was greatly affected in the absence of mass abstentions by the teaching community.
In Thanjavur, over 5,000 teachers belonging to 18 associations participated in the stir and the protesters led by JACTO coordinators Subramani and Jothimani staged a demonstration in front of the Panagal Buildings.
In Tiruvarur, over 6,500 teachers and headmasters participated in the stir and under the leadership of JACTO district coordinator Ravi, State high-level committee member Meenakshisundaram staged a demonstration in front of the Municipal Office.
However, officials claimed that there was no problem in conducting classes.
