THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Escalating their ongoing agitation against the state government’s alleged unfulfilled assurances, Valarmathi S, secretary of the All Kerala Lower Primary School Teacher (LPST) Rank Holders’ Association, shaved her head and launched an indefinite fast-unto-death strike in the capital on Monday. Later in the day, she released a video statement alleging that the police denied them permission to erect a temporary canopy to shelter the hunger strikers sitting in the rain.
The rank holders reiterated four core demands: reducing the student-teacher ratio to 1:25, bringing Head Teacher Vacancies (HTV) under the purview of the Public Service Commission (PSC), extending the validity of the current rank list, and deferring the issuance of a fresh recruitment notification. Protesters stated that despite explicit assurances from the General Education Minister, none of these commitments have been implemented. “Reducing the student-teacher ratio is the fundamental prerequisite; without it, no further appointments can be processed,” a protester emphasized.
Speaking to The New Indian Express, Valarmathi noted that during their formal meeting with the minister on September 30, officials had assured that an official order accepting their key demands would be issued provided the agitation was called off.
“Although the government requested a 45-day period, we were summoned for another round of talks. While the minister verbally agreed to all our demands, he refused to provide a written commitment and instead insisted that we withdraw the protest. The very same authorities who cited financial constraints to label our demands impractical have approved appointments in aided schools. Will that not impose a far heavier financial burden on the state exchequer?” she questioned.
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