Aided college teachers protest seeking CAS benefits

Madurai: The Madurai Kamaraj, Manonmaniam Sundaranar, Mother Teresa, and Alagappa University Teachers Association (MUTA) on Wednesday held an agitation in front of the district collectorate in Madurai, demanding the immediate sanction of career advancement scheme (CAS) benefits with arrears to all aided college teachers.

The protesters shouted slogans and wore t-shirts with the phrase ‘Avoid Discrimination'. They condemned that GO no. 5 dated Jan 11, 2021 (higher education department) for the CAS for govt, aided colleges, and university teachers was not properly implemented. The protesters said that the demonstration was held ahead of the debate on demand for grants for the higher education department to be taken up in the state assembly.

"We consistently protested, but still the benefits following the pay revision were yet to be disbursed fully to all aided college teachers. The state govt is discriminating against aided college teachers. Apart from govt college teachers who were given all benefits, for some reason, only aided college teachers in Coimbatore and Thanjavur zones were provided the salaries, but that was also stopped," said A T Senthamarai Kannan, general secretary, MUTA.

The MUTA members also condemned that the higher education department was acting in such a manner and not fulfilling the rightful demands of aided college teachers even when there is no shortage of funds. Hence, they sought the immediate disbursal of CAS benefits to all aided college teachers.