Members of the Joint Action Council of Teachers Organisations- Government Employees Organisation (JACTO-GEO) were detained by the police as they marched from Ezhilagam to the Secretariat in Chennai on Wednesday evening.
JACTO-GEO members were on an indefinite hunger strike since June 11 at Ezhilagam on Kamarajar Salai, Chennai. The protest was against the move of the Tamil Nadu government to reduce the number of government schools, the sanctioned posts of teachers and other government employees. They also demanded the state government cancel the new pension scheme and revive the old pension scheme.
The members alleged that the plan of the government to shut down schools will affect the socially and economically weaker sections of the society from getting free education.
On Wednesday evening, they marched to the Secretariat to meet the Chief Minister and present their demands. Since the police stopped them, they indulged in a road blockade on the arterial Kamarajar Salai, along Marina beach in Chennai, stated media reports.
JACTO-GEO members also staged a protest outside the Coimbatore Collector’s office on Monday pressing similar demands. Members plan to continue protesting in their respective district collectorates until their demands are met. However, members say they will do so in the evening so that the regular school hours are not affected.
Source: The News Minute