A government school teacher in Villupuram district resigned from her post in protest against the holding of National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test.
Sabarimala Jayakanthan, 34, a teacher in Panchayat Union Middle School in Vairapuram, decided to quit her job after she was not permitted to express her protest against NEET as she was a government employee. “Following Anitha’s death, I sought permission to go on a fast. But I was told that government employees should not protest against the government. I felt that this was infringing on my individual freedom and fundamental right,” she said and added that this was not the struggle of the students alone.
“Both teachers and students should join the fight. The dream of a girl has been washed away. My salary is paid from the tax paid by the public. I thought it is only appropriate that I stand with them. If I had not resigned, my conscience would have been killed,” she said.
Ms. Jayakanthan plans to go on a day’s fast in front of her house before she begins her journey to the villages to guide the students. “I want to travel to every village to guide students. If Anitha had someone to guide her, she would not have killed herself,” she added.