Chennai, Oct 2:
Around 200 nurses staged a hunger strike in Chennai protesting against the Tamil Nadu government’s decision to recruit nurses for government hospitals on an 11-month contractual basis.
Members of the Tamil Nadu Nurses Empowerment Association participated in the protest on Swami Sivananda Salai, demanding that the government reconsider contractual recruitment and fulfil its earlier commitment on regularisation of services.
The association also opposed the decision to deploy nurses on a temporary basis to six newly established nursing colleges.
According to the protesting nurses, government hospitals had traditionally recruited nurses through the Medical Recruitment Board. They alleged that the latest arrangement, under which district administrations would recruit nurses on contract, represented a departure from the established recruitment system.
The Health Department issued an order on September 11 for the recruitment of 4,724 nurses on 11-month contracts. The National Health Mission-Tamil Nadu, through District Health Societies, subsequently invited applications for the positions.
The nurses argued that recruitment on short-term contracts could create uncertainty for employees and sought permanent appointments through the regular recruitment process.
The protest also brought attention to staffing requirements in government hospitals and the six new nursing colleges. The association said trained nurses should be provided stable employment opportunities rather than being repeatedly recruited on temporary contracts.
The government’s contractual recruitment plan is aimed at filling vacancies and meeting staffing requirements, particularly in health facilities and newly established institutions. However, the nurses’ association has sought a policy that gives greater employment security.
The protest adds to continuing discussions over recruitment, regularisation and working conditions among healthcare personnel in the State.