Chennai, November 19, 2025 — V. Annamalai, National Secretary of the All India Federation of Elementary Teachers Organisations (AIFETO) and Senior Leader of the Thamizhaga Aasiriyar Koottani, issued a strong statement following the massive one-day token strike held by JACTO-GEO across district headquarters on November 18.
Annamalai said, “The unified voice of 6.25 lakh affected government employees, teachers, special teachers, Anganwadi, noon-meal, road, and Makkal Nala staff, echoing across the state, carries one central message: ‘Honourable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, have your election promises vanished or have you simply forgotten them?’ Our struggle is not against the government, but a simple question about the promises you made while leading the opposition, attending our protests.”
The Betrayal of Old Pension Scheme (OPS)
AIFETO Annamalai explained in detail the urgent need for the restoration of OPS for more than six and a quarter lakh employees who are under the NPS.
OPS as Family Security: “The OPS is the only scheme that supports these employees until their last breath, and family pension is the scheme that protects their families thereafter. Why, when seven states have already announced restoration of OPS, is Tamil Nadu still silent? This is our deepest grievance.”
Pay Commission Discrepancy: While the Central Government has announced the 8th Pay Commission, assuring financial benefits from January 2026, the Tamil Nadu committee appointed for the pension scheme has submitted only an interim report. AIFETO Annamalai questioned the timeline for the final report and its implementation.
Benefits Targeted from the Karunanidhi Era
The statement severely criticises the current administration for undermining the welfare benefits initiated during the tenure of late Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi.
“The present government, headed by the beloved son of Karunanidhi, is daily causing damage to the benefits implemented during his time,” Annamalai pointed out. He indicated that the officials are sidelining the government orders to deduct incentives worth ₹10 lakh to ₹15 lakh from Primary and Middle School Headmasters, which were untouched even during the AIADMK regime.
“All unions, including TITOJAC and JACTO-GEO, brought these details to the attention of the School Education Minister, yet he ignored them. Is this the pride a son offers his father? Does the memory of our struggles not cross your mind even when you visit Kalaignar’s memorial?”
Suppressing Democratic Right to Protest
AIFETO Annamalai condemned the strong deterrent measures the Chief Secretary had taken against the one-day token strike.
“When we exercise our democratic right to protest and ask the government for fulfillments of its promises, the Chief Secretary issues a statement, digging up rules more restrictive than those used during British rule, to suppress the token strike.”
He remembered the past and said, “We were undeterred when the then CM Jayalalithaa dismissed 1.75 lakh employees, nor when 999 union leaders were permanently dismissed for eight months, affecting their livelihoods. Under the leadership of Mr. Karunanidhi, we fought a legal battle up to the Supreme Court, reinstated everyone, and got all their due payments—and those people are still living today.”
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A Warning to the Ruling Party
AIFETO Annamalai concluded with a political caution that the teaching community has immense electoral power. The dissatisfaction of those who refrained from the strike but are still victims of the NPS and other rights deprivations has not diminished, and this is what the government should realise.
He warned, “The government is welcome to focus on voter enumeration and ward-wise vote collection. But does this government truly believe it can win elections by alienating and ignoring the very people who conduct the census, deliver welfare schemes, and staff the polling and counting booths?”
“We do not view this government as our enemy. But if they think they can succeed without any thought for us, we will use the election process to make the government realise who we are. Historically, unions have never lost. We will stand on the ground, fight and win until our last breath to see that the promises given by the government are fulfilled and mandatory TET is cancelled from Kanyakumari to Kashmir.”
Contact AIFETO Mr. Annamalai @ 94442 12060 / 9962222314. annamalaiaifeto@gmail.com
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