Chennai, 21 December (H.S.) : Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian on Sunday announced that the state government is currently considering several key demands raised by protesting contract nurses.

While acknowledging their right to demonstrate, the Minister appealed to the nursing staff to ensure that their agitation does not jeopardize essential healthcare delivery across the state. He emphasized that as a profession involving the saving of lives, any protest must be conducted responsibly and with prior intimation to the authorities.

The Minister pointed out that many of the agitating contract nurses were originally appointed in 2014 during the tenure of late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. According to the government, these appointments were made under the condition that recruits would serve for two years before being considered for regularisation based on seniority and post availability.

However, Subramanian noted that no new batches were regularised for several years thereafter. It was only after the current administration took office that yearly regularisation began, with 3783 nurses having been made permanent so far.

Regarding the demand for additional posts, the Health Minister explained that policy decisions must consider the medical sector's structure, patient load, and financial feasibility.

He highlighted that the government has already created 18000 posts and regularised 35000 employees since assuming power. Furthermore, appointment orders for 169 more nurses are scheduled to be issued this Tuesday.

Subramanian also hinted at political motives behind the timing of the agitation, suggesting that some individuals might be influencing the nurses during the election period.

He reaffirmed the government's commitment to engage constructively with the representatives of the protesters and assured that all legitimate and feasible demands would be addressed systematically as vacancies arise.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Dr. R. B. Chaudhary