The Kerala LPST rank list protest intensified on Sunday when Valarmathi, secretary of the Action Council and convenor of the LPST rank holders’ protest committee, returned to the agitation outside the state Secretariat after being taken to hospital during an indefinite hunger strike. The protesters are demanding appointments to government schools before the Kerala Public Service Commission rank list for Lower Primary School Teacher posts expires.
The rank holders have been protesting outside the Secretariat for 117 days. Valarmathi had tonsured her head on October 26 before beginning the hunger strike. On Saturday, doctors examined her and advised immediate medical attention, after which police took her to hospital.
Speaking to reporters after returning to the protest, Valarmathi alleged that police used force to remove her from the site despite her weakened condition after six days of fasting. She alleged that officers dragged her by her hands and legs, causing swelling and severe pain. She also questioned whether her health had been properly assessed before she was shifted to hospital.
Valarmathi said her blood sugar and pulse readings were normal when she was examined and claimed that she was suffering from exhaustion caused by exposure to the sun. She further alleged that police took away her mobile phone at the hospital. These allegations were made by Valarmathi while addressing reporters after her return to the protest; the report did not include a response from the police to the claims.
The protesters are seeking appointment orders for all eligible candidates on the LPST rank list before its expiry. Their other demands include transferring appointments to aided-school teaching posts to the PSC, ending alleged cash-for-job practices in recruitment and reducing the teacher-student ratio to 1:25.
Valarmathi said the proposed teacher-student ratio was necessary in view of declining student strength in government schools and the number of qualified teachers awaiting appointment. She alleged that teaching appointments in aided schools across Kerala were being made outside the PSC system and called for such recruitment to be brought under the commission.
The committee said it had collected school-wise and district-wise data on student strength, vacancies in divisions and Class 1 enrolment to support its demands. Valarmathi said the Education Department should examine the data rather than commission another study. She also alleged that the government had not provided documentary evidence supporting its position on the protesters’ demands.
According to Valarmathi, assurances without official orders or supporting records were inadequate. She questioned whether the government had recommended that the PSC stop or defer fresh appointment notifications until eligible candidates on the existing rank list were considered.
Valarmathi also accused Education Minister N Samsudheen of misleading the Assembly by saying that four of the five demands had been met. She maintained that none had been fulfilled and said the government had earlier sought 45 days to examine the issues. Youth organisations are scheduled to stage a protest near the Secretariat on Monday, according to her announcement.
