Strike: Tamil Nadu govt data on 95% teachers returning to work is false, JACTTO-GEO says

CHENNAI: The Joint Action Council of Tamil Nadu Teachers’ Organisations and Government Employees’ Organisations (JACTTO-GEO) denied the state government's claim that 95% high and higher secondary school teachers returned to work + on Tuesday. JACTTO-GEO reiterated that protests would continue until chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami invited them for talks.
Speaking to reporters here on Tuesday, M Subramaniam of JACTTO-GEO said teachers continued to participate in the indefinite strike across the state and the government was providing false data to weaken the protest.

"Police blocked entry of several employees into the protest venues. Many women teachers were ill-treated at marriage halls, where they were detained last night, without adequate water or food," he said.

Subramaniam condemned the state school education department for suspending over 1,200 teachers till date and replacing them with temporary and retired staffs.

"By this, the government can't function effectively. Elections are coming in the next three months. Temporary teachers can't be used for it and they have to depend on teachers and employees from other state government departments," he added.

However, when TOI checked a few schools in Chennai city on Tuesday, higher secondary classes were functioning and more teachers were spotted in primary sections compared to last week. TOI reporters visited some schools in Madurai and Coimbatore too and found them functioning in full teacher strength.

At the protest venue in Chepauk here, the majority of the protesters were government employees, not teachers.

(With inputs from Pratiksha Ramkumar and Balajee C R)