The strike call given by the Joint Action Council of Tamil Nadu Teachers’ Organisations and Government Employees Organisations (JACTTO-GEO) elicited mixed response in Tiruchi and other districts in the Central region on Tuesday.

The impact was strongly felt in rural areas.

The day was marked by demonstrations resorted to by the striking government employees and teachers in front of several taluk offices across the central districts in support of their demands including scrapping of the new pension scheme.

Several elementary schools functioning in rural areas in Tiruchi district remained closed as 80% of teachers struck work, said S. Neelakandan, one of the Tiruchi district coordinators of JACTTO-GEO and district secretary of Tamil Nadu Elementary School Teachers Federation.

Nearly 50% of teachers working in government high and higher secondary schools also joined the strike, said K. Uduman Ali, another district coordinator of JACTTO-GEO.

The participation of government employees in Tiruchi district was nearly 50% on day one of the indefinite strike, said J. Valan Arasu, district secretary, Tamil Nadu Government Employees Association.

The response to the strike call would rise from Wednesday, he added.

Some offices in the District Collectorate at Tiruchi wore a deserted look as employees abstained from work heeding the strike call. Demonstrations were held at eight places in Tiruchi district including near Collectorate, Manapparai, Tiruverumbur, Lalgudi, Thuraiyur and Musiri.

Meanwhile, an official press release said on Tuesday that out of the over 32,000 employees working in various government departments and offices in Tiruchi district those who were absent without prior sanction were 7,239.

In Thanjavur district, over 60% of revenue officials and more than 55% of teachers participated in the indefinite strike.

Teachers participation in the strike was around 75% and those of government employees were over 30% in Pudukottai district, said the sources.

The strike severely affected functioning of government schools mainly primary schools in Karur and Ariyalur districts.

According to a report, nearly 35% of employees owing allegiance to striking associations responded positively to the strike call in Karur district. The response was high among teachers mainly primary.

The striking employees and teachers held demonstrations in front of five taluk offices including Karur, Aravakurichi and Kulithalai.

Demonstrations were also held at Ariyalur, Jayankondam and Perambalur.