Reiterating their demand for regularisation of service and improved benefits, hundreds of nurses working on consolidated pay at state government medical facilities across Tamil Nadu continued their protest for the third consecutive day on Saturday.
The protesters claimed they have been working on a contract for the last ten years and could not avail any benefits, including paid maternity leave.
"We were seen as angels during the pandemic, but now we feel neglected. Though we continue to put in great efforts in taking care of the patients, we don’t get pay and other benefits on par with government employees," a nurse said.
Several hundred nurses protested throughout the night of December 19, braving the nippy weather, and some had brought their kids for the indefinite protest. Initially, the nurses had staged a hunger strike at Sivananda Sala in Chepauk.
Hundreds of nurses were detained —
Over 500 nurses were detained by the police on the night of December 18 at Kilambakkam when they staged an overnight protest demanding regularisation of service, reinstatement of about 700 nurses allegedly removed from service citing administrative reasons, and seeking benefits on par with nurses appointed through the TN Medical Recruitment Board.
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