The temporary nurses appointed during the Corona lockdown have been protesting for the past one week demanding extension of work. The struggle in Salem was going on for more than three days. Later, some of the participants in the protest went to Chennai and continued their struggle.
In Tamil Nadu, at the end of March 2020, the corona virus started increasing gradually. Corona fever patients started invading government hospitals. Aside from the sudden increase in the number of corona patients, many government nurses and doctors who were already working were caught by corona and went on leave.
Subsequently, the then AIADMK government urgently appointed 3200 nurses temporarily in two phases namely Phase 1 and Phase 2 in government hospitals across Tamil Nadu. They were given a monthly gratuity of 14,000 rupees. They had been working for two and a half years, receiving extension orders every six months. In this case, the Tamil Nadu government has ordered to dismiss all the nurses appointed during the corona period on December 30.
Shocked by the government’s sudden order, the temporary nurses started protesting near the Salem District Collector’s office from January 1. Last Tuesday (Jan. 30), they took part in the protest wearing black blindfolds. More than 200 nurses from various districts including Salem, Ramanathapuram, Chennai, Thoothukudi, Nellai, Karur participated in this protest.
In this regard, we spoke to Das Navis, Muthulakshmi, Balachandran and Vilvavinitha on behalf of the affected nurses. “During the previous AIADMK regime, around 3200 nurses were temporarily appointed in two phases in May 2020 citing shortage of nurses in government hospitals during the Corona period.
They were giving a monthly bonus of 14,000 rupees. MRP We won the competitive examination and were appointed on the basis of rotation. However, after the establishment of the DMK government, 800 of the nurses temporarily appointed during the Corona era were dismissed on the grounds that they were not appointed on the basis of ethnic rotation. It is the government’s fault for appointing without following the rotation and reservation system. Why should both governments victimize us? Also, apart from the 800 people who were dismissed, 2472 others have been appointed on the basis of proper rotation and merit. The current government has not understood this properly. In the appointment order given to us, they have mentioned that the appointment is based on selection and rotation.
In this case, 2472 temporary nurses who were appointed during the Corona period were suddenly sent home on December 30th without being told. We are stuck in the middle of nowhere, losing our livelihood and not knowing where to go next. We do not want to make the work permanent. At the same time, we should be given an extension. Also, during the corona period, the appointed nurses should be transferred to package pay. When vacancies arise, we should be given priority and made permanent gradually,” said the affected nurses.
After completing the nursing course, many have been working in leading private hospitals and some in other fields earning more than 40 – 60 thousand rupees per month. Our investigation also revealed that many people have given up the good salary they had bought and joined the temporary job for a lump sum of 14000 rupees in the dream that one day the government job will become permanent.
Apart from this, they say that 200 temporary nurses in the Kilpauk Government Hospital have not been paid for the last 6 months. Not only here, it has come to light that in the districts of Mettur (Salem), Thanjavur, Karur and Ramanathapuram, wages are dragging on for 2 months to 6 months.
We contacted the Tamil Nadu Health Minister M. Subramaniam on his cell phone on the third day to get an explanation in this regard. Speaking to us, his BA said, “The minister is coming to Chennai by plane from a foreign place. Can’t talk to him right now. The Minister has already given an explanation to the media regarding this issue. In this regard, ask the representatives of the nurses to speak to the minister in person,” he said and hung up.
This aside, the protesting nurses met former chief minister Edappadi Palaniswami in Salem on Monday (Jan 2) seeking support. BJP, Naam Tamilar Party executives, Leftists, Government Employees Union executives came to the protest site in person and expressed their support.
The contract nurses held talks with Minister M. Subramanian in Chennai for about 2 hours. In this, extension of work under National Health Scheme has been discussed. In this case, the contract nurses refused to accept the decision to extend the work under the National Health Scheme during the talks with the Minister. Also, the contract nurses have announced that the strike will continue as there is no agreement in the talks with the minister.