Thiruvananthapuram: The lower primary school teacher (LPST) rank holders, who have been an indefinite protest for more than a month, have intensified it by launching a mass hunger strike outside the Secretariat on Thursday.Association secretary S Valarmathi, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike for the past nine days, is reportedly in poor health. An association member said she might be shifted to hospital if her condition deteriorates further.The latest escalation comes despite seven rounds of discussions between the govt and the protest committee representatives. The protesters are demanding a reduction in the teacher-student ratio, creation of additional teacher posts and the transfer of aided-school appointments to Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC).On Tuesday, the additional private secretary to general education minister visited the protest venue and handed over an official note from the minister, urging the protesters to withdraw the agitation. The minister’s office said the govt had sought two months’ time to examine the demands when association representatives met the minister last week.The govt had also proposed that the protesters call off the agitation in return for a two-month salary concession. The protesters, however, rejected the proposal.The education department has maintained that it is willing to take steps to address the concerns raised by the rank holders. The agitation was launched over the delay in appointments despite the LPST rank list completing one year.The protesters said candidates ranked first in the list in five districts have not yet received an appointment order. They allege that the govt has failed to adequately address their demands even as the agitation enters its second month.The decline in student enrolment has been cited as a major hurdle in creating additional teaching posts. The protesters argue that reducing the teacher-student ratio to 1:25 would facilitate the appointment of at least some rank holders.Meanwhile, Yuva Morcha organised a march expressing solidarity with the PSC rank holders on hunger strike outside the Secretariat, demanding immediate appointments and alleging irregularities in recruitment to various govt posts.Police used water cannons after the protesters attempted to breach the barricades erected near the Secretariat.
