Over 1,000 teachers detained during protest for equal pay

Over 1,000 secondary-grade teachers were forcibly removed and detained by the Chennai police on Saturday.

The incident occurred when teachers from across the State, belonging to the Secondary Grade Seniority Teachers’ Association (SSTA), were protesting for the second consecutive day, demanding equal pay for equal work, at the Chief Education Officer’s office at Egmore in the city.

Over 10 teachers fainted during the operation, while many protesters’ clothes were torn.

The teachers were protesting to highlight a long-standing pay disparity due to their date of appointment. Secondary-grade teachers appointed before June 1, 2009, have a basic pay of ₹8,370, whereas those appointed after June 2009 get a basic pay of ₹5,200. The protesters demanded that the government rectify the pay anomaly.

“We have been demanding this for 16 years. We are taking the same classes as the other teachers. Yet, we are paid less. No action has been taken even three months after talks were held with the School Education Minister. The protest will continue until a government order is issued,” said a teacher from Pudukkottai.

The teachers had held a protest at the Directorate of Public Instruction on Friday. They were detained and lodged in halls across the city.

“The protest is important. We are only asking for remuneration for our labour. There is no one to look after my children at home, and hence, they came with me [to the protest]. My labour goes towards their education and well-being,” said a teacher from Krishnagiri.

The police dragged and carried away the protesters to clear the site. “There is no place to hold a protest. We can only protest where we are given work. Now, that is also being denied. Where else can we show our discontent?” said a teacher from Theni.

SSTA Sivaganga secretary Vijayaraj said the protests will continue until the government takes action and issues an order. Over 150 police personnel and 23 buses were deployed to remove the teachers from the protest venue.