Following an announcement by the State government addressing the protesters’ key demands, including permanent employment, the seven-day Statewide protest launched by nurses has been suspended.
Speaking to journalists at Madurai Medical College on Wednesday, N. Subin, State general secretary of Tamil Nadu Nurses Empowerment Association, said, “Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ma. Subramanian, who initially cited ‘zero vacancies,’ has now assured that 1,000 nurses will be made permanent.”
He said they felt relieved that the government had got the list for initiating the process and the Finance Department had given its clearance.
Regarding other demands raised by the protesters, he said, the pending benefits, including maternity leave, were promised to be settled before Pongal festival.
“The consolidated pay for government hospital nurses, which was fixed at ₹14,000 four years ago, was recently increased to ₹18,000. The government has promised to pay the difference as arrears from the date of the hike announcement,” Mr. Subin noted.
The government had assured them that they would reinstate the remaining 724 nurses who were dismissed after working during COVID-19 pandemic.
The government’s other assurances included filling of 266 nursing supervisor grade II positions and 146 nursing tutor positions through counselling, creation of new permanent posts in 37 critical care buildings at government hospitals, and moving approximately 8,000 consolidated pay nurses into permanent positions in a phased manner.
He said the government had guaranteed that no vindictive action would be taken against the nurses who participated in the seven-day strike, and no salary would be deducted for the protest period.
Published – December 24, 2025 08:49 pm IST
