Nurses are protesting and demanding withdrawal of TN government’s retrenchment measures

Protesters outside the Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services in Chennai on Tuesday. | Photo credit: B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM

Nurses affiliated to the Tamil Nadu Nurses Empowerment Association staged a demonstration at the Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services (DMS) premises in Chennai on Tuesday to present their long pending demands.

Association officials met with the Director of Rural Health Services and presented their petitions. One of their key demands on the directorate was the immediate withdrawal of staff reduction measures and the relocation of nursing positions under the guise of restructuring.

There is an acute shortage of nurses in the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Government Hospitals and State Medical College Hospitals.

Government should create permanent nursing posts in existing hospitals and newly established hospitals based on patient load and recommendations of National Medical Commission and Indian Public Health Standards. It should create new promotion positions of senior nurse III, II. and I. degrees.

This is to ensure promotion of nurses and regularize all remaining nurses employed on consolidated pay. Permanent positions should be created in the six upcoming nursing faculties and provide career opportunities for nurses.

Contract recruitment

The government should withdraw its decision to fill posts through the Medical Services Recruitment Board for 11 months. It should take steps to regularize the nurses currently working on contract basis and in future end the practice of consolidated pay appointments by recruiting nurses only for permanent posts.

The association said the authorities have assured their representatives that their demands will be discussed with Health Minister KG Arunraj and a meeting will be arranged within a week.

Published – 21 Jul 2026 23:39 IST