VISAKHAPATNAM: Teachers of different schools in the city and district, owing allegiance to various unions, launched a relay hunger strike opposite the Government Queen Mary's High School on Tuesday in protest against what they called `indifference of the State Government' towards their demands.

The agitation, being organised all over the State under the banner of Joint Action Committee of Teachers' Organisations, continued for the third day on Tuesday following failure of talks between union leaders and the Government.

Main demands

The main demands of the teachers include revival of common service rules for teachers based on which transfers and promotions were made in the past, abolition of apprentice system in appointment of teachers, extension of medical reimbursement facility to teachers of municipal corporation schools and lifting of the ban on appointments and promotions.

The teachers raised slogans denouncing the `indifferent' attitude of the Government. "Though about 1,600 private teachers have been appointed in the district to take up spot valuation work, only about 300 were reporting for duty. Many of these private teachers were `unqualified' as they had failed in SSC and the fate of students can well be imagined when they evaluate the answer sheets," state president of the Aided Schools Teachers' Guild Y. Demudu said.

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