One-man panel to look into teachers’ wages

Explaining various welfare measures taken for the teachers in the state, the Minister also pointed out that a case has been pending before the High Court with regard to the same wage issue. “The one man committee has already been appointed. The committee will look into the issue. Therefore, it is requested to withdraw the protest immediately,” he appealed. 

Earlier in the day, leaders from various political parties visited the teachers who were on a hunger strike in the city demanding parity in the salaries. 

DMK working president MK Stalin has asked state education secretary Pradeep Yadav to take the ongoing middle-class teachers strike to the notice of the government and initiate appropriate action. Stalin, who visited the agitating teachers observing indefinite hunger strike and expressed solidarity with them, later tweeted that he had spoken to Pradeep, who assured appropriate action on the same. 

PMK founder S Ramadoss said, “It is a shame on government, as teachers’ strike entered third consecutive day. The government should act on the issue immediately without ignoring their demands. Their demand is fair, because there should be no disparity in the salaries and the government should weed out any difference in this respect.” “The manner in which government and police handled the protestors on Monday is a human rights violation,” he added. 

Similarly, K Balakrishnan, state secretary of CPM, said, “Salaries should be equal and if there is any discrepancy in providing salaries, the government should settle the issues. The teaching fraternity is protesting in a silent manner, but the state government is instigating the police department to disperse the protestors.” 

Pointing out that around 70 protesters already fell sick and were hospitalised, Balakrishnan said, “Sensing the gravity of the issue, the government should intervene and sort out the issue.”