New committee to solve contract nurses' issue: TN govt informs Madras High Court

Chennai: The state government has informed the Madras high court that it has decided to form a core committee headed by the principal secretary to government, health and family welfare department, to resolve various issues of contract nurses.

U. Anbu, additional secretary to government, health and family welfare department, said this in his status report filed before the First Bench comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice Abdul Quddhose.

Senior counsel P. Wilson, appearing for MRB Nurses Welfare Association submitted that when the recruitment was made in 2015, the government promised in the notification that within two years the nurses would be absorbed in permanent post. However, even after two years they have not been absorbed, despite vacancies.

He also submitted that the consolidation pay of Rs 7,700 per month was far below the minimum wages which was Rs 18,000 per month.

When this court directed the association not to go on strike, the association obeyed the order and suspended the strike. However, in the very same order, this court directed that the genuine grievances be addressed by the government. This direction has not been obeyed by the government. The formation of a committee was only an eye wash, Wilson added.The bench posted to January 12, further hearing of the petition filed by N. Ganesh of Avadi.In his counter affidavit, Anbu submitted that as requested by the associations in their petition that they have completed two years of service, they should be brought into regular time scale of pay and also the Contract Pay of Rs 7,700 received by them was not enough to meet daily expenses, it has been decided that efforts will be taken on how the contract nurses could be brought under regular time scale.