Chennai Teachers' Protest Intensifies Over Salary Disparity
The protest by secondary grade teachers in Chennai entered its second day on Saturday, marked by the detention of more than 700 educators. The teachers are demanding the resolution of a long-standing pay anomaly that has created a significant financial disparity between colleagues.
The Core Issue: A Growing Pay Gap
At the heart of the agitation is a pay structure discrepancy affecting those appointed on or after June 1, 2009. These teachers have been receiving Rs. 3,170 less in basic pay compared to their counterparts who joined before that date. The teachers' association contends that this initial difference has now ballooned to over Rs. 9,000, creating substantial inequity.
On Friday, the protest was staged outside the DPI (Directorate of Public Instruction) complex. Demonstrating a strategic shift on Saturday, the teachers gathered at the office of the chief education officer to press their demands.
Mass Detentions and a Vow to Escalate
Authorities responded to Saturday's gathering by detaining the protesting teachers. They were held at 12 different wedding halls across the city. Velmurugan, the State Deputy Head of the Secondary Grade Seniority Teachers' Association, reported that teachers arrived in batches throughout the day.
Expressing frustration at the government's stance, Velmurugan stated, "The government is still not ready to fulfil our demands." He issued a clear warning of an intensified agitation, adding, "We will intensify the protests tomorrow (Sunday)."
The ongoing protest highlights the deepening discontent among a section of educators in Tamil Nadu over perceived salary injustices. The association's promise to ramp up their movement suggests the issue is far from resolved, potentially leading to further disruptions in the coming days.
