Two tribal students of a government school in Kothamangalam, Ernakulam district have started an indefinite hunger strike, demanding immediate appointment of teachers in their school.

Yadhukrishna Jayakumar and Sandhya K from Mamalakkandam tribal hamlet began the strike in front of the district education office on Tuesday.

 

The Times of India reports that the government had converted the upper primary school into a high school in 2014, but failed to create additional posts for teachers.

 

“We made several representations to the state government to no avail. Considering the students' future, we deployed temporary teachers on our own. But the government is not ready to pay them,'' Jayakumar M N, president, parent teachers' association (PTA) told TOI.

 

On Tuesday, parents and students of the school had conducted a march towards the education office, but authorities refused to listen to them and the police asked to disperse. Following this, the students began hunger strike at 2 pm.

 

Though district administration told PTA that next cabinet meeting will take decision regarding the issue, PTA leaders, said the strike would be called off only after a favorable government decision.