Kick-starting a hunger strike on Monday, All Kerala Lower Primary School Teacher (LPST) Rank Holders’ Association Secretary Valarmathi S shaved her head and declared a fast until death. 

Kerala education minister N Shamsudeen said that the protesters are pressurising the government for doing things that cannot be done. He said the appointments can only be done when vacancies come

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The protesters allege the education minister betrayed them by not fulfilling their promise . According to the protesters, their primary requirement is to reduce the student-teacher ratio, without which no more appointments can be done.

Valarmathi told TNIE that during their meeting with the minister on September 30, the authorities said they will issue an order accepting their demands once the protests were called off.

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The teachers rank holders demands include reduction of student-teacher ratio to 1:25, inclusion of Head Teacher Vacancy (HTV) under the PSC’s umbrella, extend their rank list’s validity, and postpone issuing the new notification.

Valarmathi S on Monday alleged that police refused to let them set up a canopy as protestors taking part in the hunger strike were sitting in the rain.