After talks with Minister, secondary grade teachers halt protest

After nearly eight hours of discussion with the School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi and other officials, the secondary grade teachers will halt their protest for a day as the government has sought time to come up with a solution.

“We have submitted all the documents regarding the pay disparity to the School Education Department officials. They have asked for some time. We hope for a positive result on Pongal day. If not, our fierce protests will continue from January 16,” said J. Robert, general secretary of the Secondary Grade Seniority Teachers’ Association.

Part-time teacher dies

A part-time teacher from Perambalur, Kannan, died at the Kilpauk Medical Hospital on Wednesday after efforts to save him were in vain.

Kannan had attempted to end his life on Tuesday. Following this, various part-time teachers associations had resolved to continue their protests demanding regularisation.

Mr. Poyyamozhi had held talks with the protesting teachers, including part-time teachers and secondary grade teachers.

Addressing mediapersons, the Minister said, “A hike of ₹2,500 will be given to part-time teachers and we will also pay them ₹10,000 as salary in May, whereas, previously, they received no salary during that month.”

Part-time teachers to continue protest

However, part-time teachers, who had been holding protests for the last eight days in the city, said they would continue their protest as the hike would not make much of an impact.

“We want to be regularised where we would be paid fairly and also receive benefits. Many of us stare at a bleak future as we won’t have pension. The ₹2,500 hike only brings our salary to ₹15,000 from ₹12,500. We want the government to fulfil its promise,” said Babu, State president of Tamil Nadu Special Part-time Teachers’ Federation.

Meanwhile, secondary grade teachers who have been protesting for the last 20 days continued talks with the Minister demanding ‘equal pay for equal work’. After the first round of talks with the School Education Director S. Kannappan failed, the second round of talks continue.

Secondary grade teachers appointed before June 1, 2009, receive a basic pay of ₹8,370. But those appointed after that date only receive ₹5,200. At present, post-2009 appointees draw a monthly salary of about ₹20,600, including allowances, compared with about ₹28,950 for those appointed earlier. The secondary grade teachers want the government to rectify the pay anomaly.

(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the State’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416 and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050).