JACTO-GEO protests for revival of old pension scheme

Members of the Joint Action Council of Tamil Nadu Teachers Organisations and Government Employees Organisation (JACTO-GEO) held a hunger strike in Palanganatham on Sunday. They are calling for various demands, including the revival of the old pension scheme. A. Vincent Paulraj, the state coordinator, led the protest. He criticized the current Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) and demanded that the old pension scheme be reintroduced. He also called for an end to outsourcing employees in government departments and urged timely payment of dearness allowance and resumption of leave encashment. Paulraj emphasized that teachers at all levels should receive salaries comparable to those of Central government employees. He highlighted ongoing confusion about salary structures for government staff and insisted that this issue be addressed promptly. Additionally, he expressed concern about the delay in releasing benefits from the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) for college lecturers. Paulraj pointed out the critical need to fill existing job vacancies, as the shortage of staff is impacting work efficiency. The protesters noted that despite several demonstrations over the past three years, the government has not responded to their concerns. They warned that they would escalate their protests if no action is taken soon. Supporters from the Tamil Nadu Revenue Officers Association also joined the agitation.