Tamil Nadu: Govt nurses demand regularisation of services

Chennai: Government nurses demanding regularisation of services held talks with officials at the Director of Medical and Rural Health Services (DMS) on Wednesday. Around 500 government nurses working under the Director of Medical and Rural Health Services (DMS) staged a protest recently at the premises, demanding permanent appointment by the medical recruitment board. Over 11,000 nurses have completed two years of service.

Director of Public Health Department, Dr Kolandaisamy and Director of Medical Services Dr Inba Sekhar discussed the woes of government nurses along with representatives of Nurses’ Joint Action Committee and Doctors’ Association for Social Equality. Though some demands have been met, the officials asked for a time period of two weeks to put forward the regularisation issue to state government and senior officials of the department.

The nurses demanded removal of the practice of appointment of nurses on  contract basis. “After the completion of the term for two years, we should be given permanent appointment after which we can get the regular pay of Rs 38,000. Outsourcing of nurses on contract basis should not be done and the medical recruitment board should take charge of recruitment of nurses,” said state secretary of nurses association C. Leelavathy.

The nurses also demanded an increment in salary and eight hour shift basis work schedule. They are currently receiving a monthly salary of Rs 7,700 and work for 12 hours a day. The Nurses’ Joint Action Committee extended its support to implement universal minimum wages for nurses in all hospitals in the state.

Director of Medical Services Dr Inba Sekhar said that the demands of the nurses have been recorded and will be represented to state government along with the DME on Thursday.