Teachers protest ‘arbitrary' counselling

Teachers also protested the slow rate of promotions. Photo: A. Muralitharan

Protesting the arbitrary manner in which counselling for teachers from Adi Dravidar Welfare Schools from all over the State was held at a single location in Chennai at very short notice, teachers protested and many of them stayed away.

 Counselling for school teachers and hostel wardens of Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department from all 32 districts of the State began at Government ADW High School in Nagalkeni, Chromepet, on Saturday. Even before counselling began, teachers coming under the umbrella of the Federation of Adi Dravidar Welfare Department Teachers' and Wardens' Associations, protested what they termed as “unjust” and “arbitrary” manner in which the counselling was being conducted.

 Teachers said counselling for more than 10 years for teachers and wardens from the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department was held in the respective district headquarters, similar to the counselling conducted by the School Education Department. However, a Government Order issued by the department (No. 187) on May 23 had directed that the counselling would be held only in Chennai.

 “At very short notice, teachers have been asked to attend the counselling. Is it fair on the part of the government to make women and physically challenged teachers from places as far as Kanyakumari and Nilgiris to come all the way to Chennai,” asked A. Chakrapani, State president of TN ADW and Tribal Welfare Department Teachers' and Wardens' Association.

 Teachers and hostel wardens working under the ADW Department were already subject to many discriminations and step-motherly treatment compared to their colleagues from the School Education Department on issues relating to promotion. Making them come to a single venue for counselling only added insult to injury, Mr. Chakrapani said.

 K. Bagyaraj, a representative from another teachers' association, said the latest G.O. was in clear violation of the policies spelt out by the Chief Minister on welfare of oppressed classes. He demanded that the order be revoked without any delay and the earlier practice of conducting counselling at the district headquarters by the respective District Adi Dravidar Welfare Officer and under the supervision of the District Collector or District Revenue Officer be continued. When counselling for teachers of the School Education Department is held at the respective district headquarters, why there should there be a separate rule for them, Mr. Bagyaraj asked.

 Teachers from Villupuram and Vellore districts said counselling was a time consuming process with the involvement of several officials from the Revenue Department. Counselling in the district headquarters would be hassle free and transparent , while on Saturday, the Counselling for teachers from more than one district was held on one single day on Saturday.

Many teachers from far-off districts would be forced to stay away from the counselling as it is held in Chennai. The department would not even provide travelling expenses, some of the teachers said. Another important grievance was that teachers from the Adi Dravidar community (Scheduled Castes) who had joined the job after completing Bachelor of Education as long as 1997, were yet to get a single promotion, while their colleagues in the School Education Department joining in the same rank were promoted in just two years. There are over 12,000 teachers and wardens in 1,491 schools and 1,616 hostels run by the department. More than 60,000 students are hostellers. The department remained mute to their grievances, the teachers said and called for the Chief Minister's intervention to put a permanent end to their grievances.

 P. Sivasankaran, Commissioner of the Department, said counselling was being conducted in Chennai only to ensure transparency. Teachers were not forced and only those willing to and seeking transfer to other locations would attend the counselling.