Sun Mar 23 14:58:57 UTC 2025: ## Hundreds of Tamil Nadu Teachers and Government Employees Stage Hunger Strike
**Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu, March 23, 2025** – Over 400 members of the Joint Action Council of Tamil Nadu Teachers’ Organisation and Government Employees’ Organisation (JACTTO-GEO) conducted a day-long hunger strike in Virudhunagar on Sunday. The protest focused on a ten-point charter of demands, primarily concerning the reinstatement of the old pension scheme.
State coordinator S. Gunasekaran expressed disappointment with the state government, accusing Chief Minister M.K. Stalin of reneging on a previous promise to implement the old pension scheme. Further fueling their discontent was the state budget’s announcement to revive leave surrender only from April 2026. Gunasekaran questioned the delay, highlighting the significance of leave salary for employees facing yearly school and college fee payments. The suspension of this salary, initially due to COVID-19 under the previous AIADMK government, remains in effect.
Other key demands included the repeal of Government Order 243, which negatively impacts the promotion prospects of primary school teachers, and the rectification of salary anomalies for high school and higher secondary school teachers. The protesters also called for the filling of vacant positions and regularization of employment for road workers. JACTTO-GEO coordinators K. Karuppaiah, Selvaganesan, P. Muthiah, and Pitchai participated in the hunger strike.
First Piper 