CHENNAI: School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi on Wednesday announced a salary hike of Rs 2,500 per month (from Rs 12,500 to Rs 15,000) for part-time teachers who are holding protest demanding job regularisation.
He also said the teachers would be paid Rs 10,000 for the month of May, the period for which they were not being paid salary. The teachers, however, said their protest would continue until they are regularised, which would entitle them to all service benefits.
The minister’s announcement came hours before a protesting teacher died in hospital. The victim from Perambalur, who had taken part in six consecutive days of protests by the teachers in Chennai, was detained by police at a marriage hall at Vanagaram on Tuesday after protesting outside the Perasiriyar Anbazhagan Education Complex. The 49-year-old man attempted to kill himself during detention and was rushed to the Kilpauk Medical College Hospital on Tuesday. He died on Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters, the minister said the demands of part-time teachers were justified and that their regularisation had also been promised in the DMK’s election manifesto.
“Part-time teachers have several years of service and we have to absorb them. However, there may be legal issues. We will soon convene a meeting with the teachers and law department officials to figure this out,” he said. The minister added that part-time teachers will be extended the same medical benefits as regular teachers.
Protest will continue till jobs are regularised: Teachers
“We have waited for more than four years after the DMK came to power, still the promise has not been fulfilled. Only regularisation or shifting us to time-scale pay will ensure all benefits, including Provident Fund. We will continue our protest till it is done,” said one protesting teacher.
He added that they were not able to run families with their meagre salaries leading to many of them falling into debt and other troubles. The salaries of part-time teachers were increased from Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,500 following a large-scale protest in 2023. Meanwhile, officials from the school education department also conducted talks with secondary-grade teachers.
The teachers said secondary-grade teachers appointed before June 1, 2009, were placed on a basic pay of Rs 8,370, while those appointed on or after the cut-off date (June 1, 2009) were given a basic pay of Rs 5,200, despite having the same qualification and duties. Over the years, they said, this disparity has widened to Rs 25,000-Rs 30,000 in overall monthly salaries. They said no consensus was reached during talks and their protests would continue from Friday.