Sacked MKU temporary employees observe hunger strike

Madurai

The 136 casual labour and consolidated pay casual labour employees of Madurai Kamaraj University who were dismissed from service observed a one-day hunger strike in front of the University entrance on Tuesday.

The dismissed employees have been holding protests seeking their reinstatement. The University dismissed them from service without prior notice citing the financial situation at the University, they said. 

They have been protesting continuously for over two months now.

S. Sivanantham, a clerk who was dismissed from service, said they did not receive any order pertaining to their dismissal and were only told orally. Most of them were aged between 35-40 years and were the sole breadwinners of their families. They could not opt for private jobs nor could they apply for competitive exams.

He demanded that they be reinstated.

M. Senthilkumar, who was a clerk, said the temporary employees were struggling to make ends meet. The protests would intensify if there was no response from the authorities.

K. Neethi Raja, District secretary of Tamil Nadu Government Employees Association, said it was not 136 people who were protesting but families that were dependent on the salaries drawn by the employees.