Teachers working in municipal corporation schools launched relay fast at Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) office main gate seeking payment of salaries through Treasury Department.
They threatened to boycott the SSC examination if the government fails to respond to the agitation.
Members, under the aegis of the VMC Employees, Teachers, and Workers' Joint Action Committee, launched the fast at the office main gate on Friday.
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The VMC is operating 105 institutions, including 75 elementary schools, two upper primary schools, and 28 high schools. A total of 850 teachers are working in the schools and 1,860 students are appearing for SSC examination from the schools this year.
The teachers met Secondary Education Minister K. Parthasarathy and urged him to ensure payment of salaries through the Treasury Department. Responding to the problem, the Minister assured to bring it to the notice of the government to ensure salaries were paid promptly.
They also met district Collector S.A.M. Rizvi, who is also VMC Special Officer, and appealed to him to solve the problem.
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Committee convener D. Eshwar said though the teachers took the matter to the notice of the VMC officials several times, no action had been taken so far. Teachers from elementary and high schools were observing fast and would participate in pen-down strike on March 14.
“We don't want to put students to trouble. Though we have submitted several memoranda to the officials seeking payment of salaries through the Treasury Department, there has been no response so far,” said Mr. Eshwar.
“If the government fails to concede to the demand, we will boycott the SSC examination scheduled to be held from March 26,' said a teacher.
Long-pending demand
Speaking to The Hindu , District Education Officer M.V. Krishna Reddy said paying salaries to municipal school teachers was not under his purview and that the VMC officials should respond to the problem.
“It is a long-pending demand. The agitating teachers have been invited for discussion on Thursday and we are making all efforts to get the strike called off,” said the DEO.