Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder Dr. S. Ramadoss called on the Tamil Nadu government to immediately honour the long-standing demands of secondary grade teachers, highlighting the urgency of the issues that have fuelled protests for over a decade.In a statement, Ramadoss criticised the state administration for choosing arrests over dialogue with protesting teachers, warning that such actions could have a negative impact on the education sector if the announced indefinite strike from January 6 goes ahead.
He pointed out that teachers have been demonstrating for more than 16 years for the implementation of the old pension scheme, pay parity under “equal pay for equal work”, the restoration of incentive increments for higher education, and the filling of over 30,000 vacant posts in primary education — demands that remain unresolved despite repeated calls.
Ramadoss appealed directly to Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi to intervene, initiate earnest discussions with teachers’ unions, and find a lasting solution in the interest of both educators and students.
The issue has seen heightened agitation in recent weeks, with secondary grade teacher associations staging protests and sit-ins in Chennai to press for pay anomaly correction and other overdue benefits. Demonstrators have repeatedly argued that the government’s failure to fulfil promises — including those made in previous election manifestos — has deepened frustration among education professionals.
Ramadoss’s call for action comes at a critical moment as teachers prepare for an intensified strike, and stakeholders across the education sector watch closely for government response.