Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 26 A leader of the Lower Primary School Teacher (LPST) rank holders shaved her head and began an indefinite hunger strike outside the Secretariat here on Monday, intensifying a protest demanding appointments to government institutions before the Kerala PSC rank list expires.
Valarmathi, secretary of the Action Council and convenor of the protest committee, took the step as the agitation entered its 114th day.
The protesters are demanding immediate appointment orders for all eligible candidates on the LPST rank list for government schools before its expiry, the handing over of aided-school teacher appointments to the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC), the elimination of alleged cash-for-job practices in recruitment and a teacher-student ratio of 1:25.
Speaking to reporters, Valarmathi said the state Education Minister N Samsudheen had called them for discussions after she had earlier staged a 13-day hunger strike.
During the meeting, the government assured them that the issue would be resolved within 45 days, she said.
However, against their demand, the government issued a circular permitting teacher appointments in aided schools.
Also, their key demand to reduce the teacher-student ratio remained unaddressed, she alleged.
Valarmathi said the government had cited financial constraints as the reason for not addressing the demand.
She questioned this, pointing out that the government also paid the salaries of teachers appointed in aided schools.
She recalled that the Chief Minister, when he was the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, had spoken extensively about recruitment issues and questioned why the government was not considering their demands despite the prolonged agitation.
Valarmathi said she had repeatedly tried to meet the Chief Minister but had been unable to do so, with the Assembly session and subsequent holidays cited as reasons for the delay.
“Their agenda was to make us sit here for so many days by saying one thing after another. Asking for more time can only be seen as a move to break the protest,” she said.
Valarmathi said the protesters would continue their agitation until their demands were met and that she had shaved her head to register a strong protest against the government’s approach.
(PTI News)
