Chennai:Ā The Tamilnadu government today ordered to appoint temporary staff in place of the JACTO-GEO members who were arrested and suspended following the protests organised by employees and teachers’ associations.
The protest carried out by members of JACTO-GEO intensified today as 80 per cent of the teachers refused to turn up for work despite the government announcing today as the deadline to return to their jobs.
It is reported that in several places college and school students, too, have started protesting in support of the JACTO-GEO members.
The teachers and government staff have been on strike from 22 January, pressing for their 9-point charter of demands that includes returning to the old pension scheme. The association’s demands include reversal of the contributory pension scheme, payment of arrears according to the Pay Commission’s recommendations, increasing the salaries of secondary school teachers to be on a par with the pay of their Central government counterparts, etc.
Reports say that the State government is planning to implement ESMA Act if the employees continue their strike.
Tamilnadu Government Office Assistants and Basic Servants State Central Association has said they will solve their issues by holding talks with the government and continue to work.
Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar said the government will surely take action if JACTO-GEO members are adamant and do not return to work. Addressing mediapersons today, he said 71 per cent of the total revenue of the government is given as salary and pension to government employees. “Only the remaining 29 per cent is being used for the various welfare schemes of the people,” he pointed out.
Tamil Maanila Congress chief G K Vasan said Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and School Education Minister K A Sengottaiyan should hold talks with the office-bearers of JACTO-GEO and arrive at an amicable solution.
Video: B Anand