The JACTO-GEO strike which commenced on Tuesday affected teaching in the schools mainly in the elementary and middle schools in the Thanjavur and Tiruvarur districts. According to the officials of the Education Department in Thanjavur district, about 75 per cent of teachers from elementary schools struck work in the district. In other Government and aided schools 56 per cent of teachers struck work.

"As the non-teaching staff are not on strike we made arrangements keep the schools open even though teachers were on strike," said an official of the Education Department. The official pointed out arrangements were made for serving mid-day meals also. Moreover, in the district revenue department work was also affected as 63 per cent of the total 1,420 staff were on strike. According to official sources, 29 per cent of the total government employees including teachers were on strike. Out of a total of 27,480 government employees, as many as 8,018 participated in the strike.

In Tiruvarur district the impact of the strike was felt in the Education Department. Out of 5,684 teachers, 4,525 teachers went on strike and only 901 teachers were working. According to officials 511 of 532 elementary and middle schools remain closed in the district. Around 92 per of the elementary cent school teachers went on strike. As many as 2,215 government employees were also on strike. The work in the revenue department was affected the most.