Chennai Police Detain Over 1,000 Teachers in Equal Pay Protest
Police in Chennai detained more than 1,000 secondary-grade teachers during a protest outside the Chief Education Officer’s office as educators continued demanding equal pay for equal work. The detentions occurred as teachers, many of whom carried banners and chanted slogans, blocked traffic and pressed their long-standing grievances with the state government.
Protest over pay disparity issue
The teachers’ agitation stems from a pay disparity between those appointed before and after June 1, 2009. Educators say colleagues hired after that date receive lower basic pay despite performing the same duties and possessing similar qualifications. They argue the difference has widened over time and amounts to significant financial loss. The teachers’ association has repeatedly called on the Tamil Nadu government to correct the anomaly, but says there has been no meaningful resolution.
Allegations of police excess
Participants accused police of using force to clear the protest site. Some teachers alleged that officers physically handled protestors and moved them into detention centres such as community halls across the city. Protest organisers said some detained teachers refused food in detention as a mark of dissent against the police action and to draw attention to their cause.
Continued agitation and support
The Secondary Grade Seniority Teachers’ Association said the protest will continue even after schools reopen following the half-yearly holidays, as they seek negotiations with the government on pay parity. Several government employee organisations have expressed solidarity with the teachers’ cause, urging authorities to address the demands without further confrontation.
