CHENNAI: The ongoing strike by Tamil Nadu government employees association on Thursday gained momentum with agitators picketing the district collectorates, revenue offices and government buildings. Police arrested several striking employees in Madurai, Tiruvannamalai, Erode and Chennai and released them later. However, the situation was worse in the southern districts with government staff continuing their strike for the ninth consecutive day.
When police intervened, the agitating employees said they were sitting in protest in their offices and will not withdraw the strike until the government gave an assurance to fulfil their demands. Staff from 68 government departments affiliated to the TNGEA are supporting the strike.
Offices wear deserted look:
Several government offices, including the commissionerate of municipal administration and commercial taxes headquarters here wore a deserted look on Thursday. Many collectorates functioned with poor staff strength as more employees joined the statewide strike and sit-in agitations called by government employees unions.
According to police sources, about 30,000 people across Tamil Nadu participated in the strike. Of this, nearly 4,000 were picked up and later released. There was no major traffic block or untoward incident. About 100 employees of revenue administration and rural development in Kancheepuram squatted in front of the collectorate and raised slogans against the government and sought scrapping of the new pension scheme.
Though Chennai witnessed relatively lesser demonstrations, when compared with other districts, the secretariat functioned without any hindrance, particularly during the Assembly proceedings. In a respite to the government, TN government officials union ( TN - NGO union) denied any participation in the strike. “Earlier this month, senior minister O. Panneerselvam and chief secretary K. Gnanadesikan conducted a meeting with our union and assured necessary action after the ongoing Assembly session. We are with the government and trust they would address our demands,” said Shanmugh Raja, union president.
However, other unions led by Tamil Nadu Government Employees Association (TNGEA) and Jacto announced that their strike would continue until the government fulfilled the demands. R. Tamilselvi, association president, said, “Government invited our representatives for talks and we demanded a written assurance from the authorities promising action. There are about two lakh vacant posts in government and we want the government to regularise the consolidated payees immediately”, she said. There is no progress in talks and the strike will continue. It may be noted that staff from 68 government departments affiliated to the TNGEA are supporting the strike.
Guest lecturers begin indefinite fast:
Even as their protest entered the fourth day on Thursday, the 300-odd guest lecturers from across Tamil Nadu intensified their agitation by making the sit-in protest into a fast-unto-death on DPI campus here. They are demanding pay hike as recommended by UGC and withdrawal of transfer of Annamalai University professors to government colleges. K. Sekar, director of collegiate education, held talks with the protesting lecturers on Wednesday. “He couldn’t guarantee anything in the talks and he merely requested us to go home,” one of the protesting lecturers said.
Speaking to DC, the protesting lecturers questioned higher education minister P. Palaniappan’s reply in the Assembly in support of the Annamalai University’s professors. They said the minister didn’t consider the plight of guest lecturers who are working hard for low wages. He was citing UGC norms for regularisation of guest lecturers, at the same time supporting transfer of Annamalai University professors who were recruited in violation of norms, they alleged.
VCK leader Thol. Thirumavalavan visited DPI campus on Thursday and extended his support to the protesters. There are 3,411 guest lecturers in government arts and science colleges for over 15 years. They are receiving Rs 10,000 as consolidated pay for 10 months in a year. Guest lecturers are demanding Rs 25,000 per month for 12 months in a year as per UGC recommendations. Meanwhile, the Joint Action Council of Teachers’ Associations (JACTO) general council meeting was held here on Thursday. The meeting decided to organise protests in district headquarters on February 20 and in Chennai on February 25 to press the 15-point charter of demands which includes pay on a par with Central government teachers.
Karunanidhi blames govt for death:
DMK chief M. Karunanidhi blamed the state government for the death of differently-abled Kuppusamy, one of the protesters demanding three per cent reservation for the differently-abled in government jobs. In a statement here, he said, “Kuppusamy would not have died if the government had called the protesting differently-abled people for talks”. Karunanidhi also announced Rs 1 lakh solatium for the victim’s family. He said all sections of people are protesting with various demands and the government is not coming forward to hold talks with them.
The government employees are continuing their strike to demand the filling of 1.79 lakh vacancies. They are intensifying their agitations with the hope of an announcement in the ongoing interim budget session. The teachers and nurses had announced protests and staff in the judiciary. DMK treasurer M.K. Stalin, who paid homage to Kuppusamy, appealed to the differently-abled to withdraw their protests. He said he was not asking them to withdraw their demands, but making the request only to avoid loss of lives.
