A protest by intermediate/secondary school teachers demanding “equal pay for equal work” continued for the fourth consecutive day in Chennai, with law enforcement detaining several dozen educators amid clashes during the march.
Teachers, who have been staging demonstrations under the banner of the Secondary Grade Seniority Teachers’ Association (SGST), are pressing the government to address a long‑standing pay anomaly. They argue that those appointed after June 1, 2009, receive significantly lower salaries than their earlier‑appointed counterparts for the same work — a disparity government critics say has widened over successive pay revisions.
On Monday, marchers proceeding along Marina–Kamarajar Road were stopped by police, leading to scuffles between protesters and law enforcement. Traffic on the arterial route was disrupted as teachers staged sit‑ins, prompting authorities to detain participants and push back the procession. One teacher fainted during the confrontation, highlighting mounting tensions.
Political leaders have criticised the handling of the demonstrations. AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami condemned the arrests and said the government has failed to honour its promise to resolve the pay issue — a pledge it made in its 2021 election manifesto.
The protest reflects broader frustration among teacher groups, who have staged similar demonstrations previously over pay anomalies and other service concerns.
Authorities are expected to continue managing demonstrations while negotiations with teacher representatives remain under discussion.