Chennai: School students and people who wanted to avail services at government offices suffered today, as State government employees and teachers’ associations belonging to Jacto-GEO have jumped into strike stressing their demands including reverting to the old pension scheme.
Over 1,000 employees gathered in front of Ezhilagam building at Chepauk here and took part in the protest headed by Tamilnadu Government Employees’ Association general secretary M Anbarasu. Similar agitations took place in other places across the State.
Despite a circular issued by Tamilnadu government Chief Secretary Girija Vaidyanathan Monday that emphasised ‘no work, no pay’ for the protesting staff, and warning that leave taken by those joining the strike, would be considered unauthorised, over 10 lakh employees participated in the agitation across Tamilnadu, today, said sources.
Meanwhile, DMK president M K Stalin today met the protesting government employees in Aravakurichi and offered support to them.
Video: A R Jayakumar
| Minister’s request |
| Minister for School Education, K A Sengottaiyan today asked the teachers to return to work considering the students’ future, as the exams are just a month away. PMK founder Ramadoss, in a statement, said, “The government could have resolved the issue and avoided this protest. Now, the strike is affecting the students and the public as well.” Meanwhile, a case filed by Arumbakkam student, Gokul, against the agitation was dismissed by the High Court as the petitioner withdrew the case, today. While students at Rasipuram jumped into protest for the schools to re-open. |