JACTO-GEO protests intensify across state on 3rd day

The JACTO-GEO members, demanding their 9-point array of issues, launched an indefinite strike from January 22, even after the Chief Secretary Girija Vaidyanathan issued a circular that warned severe action against the protesters.

Hundreds of teachers and state government employees were held in various places across Tamil Nadu when they tried to stage protest demonstration.

More than 80 per cent of the work in government offices and schools came to a standstill due to the protest even as the state government is planning to take stern action against protesting staff.

Revenue Department Commissioner Sathya Gopal had sent a circular to all Collectors asking them to send details of the employees who kept off from work.

Anticipating government action, JACTO-GEO members organised an urgent meeting in the afternoon to chalk out the next course of action.

After the meeting, R Dass, JACTGO-GEO co-coordinator, said that their protest will continue and the members of the association have agreed to participate in the strike.

He also claimed that there was a 100 per cent participation from government employees and teachers across the state. “The strike will continue till our demands are met,” he said.

In Chennai, the protest was held outside the collectorate complex. The members of JACTO-GEO also organised a rally before they were taken into custody.

In Tiruvallur, the members blocked the Tirupathi-Chennai Highway. Police arrested more than 2,000 members to clear the traffic congestion.

In Madurai and other parts of the southern districts several employees courted arrest. Women outnumbered men in many places, sources said. 

As many as 2,641 employees of various departments blocked a road near Collectorate in Madurai. Nearly, 2,300 employees in Virudhunagar were also arrested during road roko. 

While 3,700 employees including 2,200 women had been arrested in Dindigul, as many as 2,118 employees including 1,493 women were held in Theni. 

Besides, Ramanathapuram saw the arrest of 2,021 employees including 1,364 women, Sivaganga witnessed the arrest of 2,018 including 1,100 women. 

Moreover, a total of 1,775 employees were held in Thoothukudi and 1,235 in Tirunelveli and more than 2,000 in Kanniyakumari, sources said.

In Vellore and Tiruvannamalai 4,100 members were arrested. Police in Vellore were caught unawares when the number of demonstrators split into groups for their agitation. 

In Tiruvannamalai, the demonstrators broke the barricades. Later, DMK leaders met the arrested members.

As part of the precautionary measures, if protesting teachers do not join duty, state government on Thursday decided to engage temporary teachers to take classes for students.

Tamil Nadu School Education Principal Secretary Pradeep Yadav, in a statement, admitted that the percentage of participation of teachers in the strike is very high in the case of elementary education.

Stating that some of the elementary and primary schools have only two teachers and participation of both teachers have led to the closure of schools for the past few days, the official directed the parents teachers’ association to engage temporary retired qualified teachers available in the neighbourhood to ensure functioning of the schools.

“In case of a school, that does not have parent teachers’ association, the nearest institutions that have the association could engage such teachers in their feeder areas,” he added.

He said the temporary teachers, who were engaged, could be paid a consolidated amount of Rs 7,500 per month on the similar pattern of other temporary engagements being done in the Education department.

“To begin with, at least one person per school in the case of primary schools, to be engaged to open and run the school smoothly,” he said adding “in due course, the strength may be increased in accordance with the strength of the students.”

Accordingly, the pattern of absentees among the protesting teachers will be observed till Friday and necessary action will be initiated from Saturday so that from Monday all such temporarily engaged teachers would start teaching.

“The chief education officers have been directed to file a complaint in the nearest police station for necessary action in case of any obstruction by striking teachers,” the official said. 

The Education secretary also pointed out that the field officers have also been directed to strictly enforce “no work no pay” principle while admitting salary slips. 

Meanwhile, the Directorate of School Education on Thursday warned the teachers that strict disciplinary action will be taken under rule 17(b) if they do not resume duty immediately.