Aided-college teachers protest outside RJD office for third day demanding CAS benefits, arrears

Aided-college teachers, affiliated to MUTA (Madurai Kamaraj University, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Mother Teresa Women’s University and Alagappa University) and the Association of University Teachers (AUT), continued their protest for the third day on Wednesday outside the office of the Regional Joint Director of Collegiate Education at Sellur here demanding Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) benefits.

As the teachers have been protesting for more than 19 days, staging a demonstration outside the RJD office was one of their strategies to attract the attention of the State government to their demands.

A.T. Senthamarai Kannan, general secretary, MUTA, said their key demand throughout the protest was immediate sanction of the CAS benefit along with arrears.

As per the Government Order of the Higher Education Department issued in 2021, the CAS benefits should have reached all eligible lecturers. But due to the confusion in the G.O., it was not properly implemented, he added.

When their counterparts in government colleges had received all benefits, including their salaries, aided-college teachers were not extended the benefits, he noted.

“It has been more than four years since the orders were issued. A section of the aided-college teachers is now left out in receiving any benefits. But almost all staff in northern and western districts have already received the benefits,” he claimed.

Mr. Senthamarai Kannan said the government had to allot just ₹12 crore to settle all the arrears to the teachers. “When they could distribute several welfare measures and schemes, why are we, who are rightfully entitled to receive money, being neglected on the pretext of lack of funds?,” he questioned.

Although the Minister for Higher Education had informed AUT — MUTA representatives that a policy decision was made to provide CAS benefits starting January 2026, no concrete steps had been taken to include these benefits in the current salary structure, the protesters alleged.