For the sixth consecutive day on Tuesday, a determined group of 145 nurses staged a sit-in protest on the premises of the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH). Wearing black badges as a mark of solidarity and dissent, they are voicing two primary demands: the regularisation of their jobs and strong condemnation of the recent arrest of fellow protesting nurses in Chengalpattu.
Statewide Stir by MRB-Recruited Nurses
The protest in Coimbatore is part of a larger statewide agitation by nurses who were recruited through the Medical Services Recruitment Board (MRB). These healthcare professionals have been demanding that their temporary positions be made permanent and regularised. In a significant show of support, a hundred more nurses from the Coimbatore district have travelled to Chennai to join the ongoing protest in the state capital, amplifying the movement's reach and pressure on the authorities.
Broken Promises and Meagre Pay
The protesting nurses expressed deep frustration over unfulfilled political assurances and poor working conditions. A Beulah, one of the nurses at the CMCH protest, highlighted the gap between promises and action. She stated that during negotiations with the health minister, only 723 new posts were offered, which would be filled gradually on a retirement basis. This is a drop in the ocean compared to the scale of the problem, as there are nearly 8,000 MRB nurses in addition to 7,000 regular staff nurses across the state.
"Only after years of struggle, our salary stands at Rs 18,000 per month, inclusive of PF," Beulah revealed. She pointedly reminded that the DMK had promised to regularise their jobs in their election manifesto but has taken zero efforts to fulfil that pledge so far.
Equal Work, Unequal Pay and Benefits
Another protesting nurse, M Krithika, underscored the injustice of their situation. "We do the same job as regular nurses and sometimes even more, but we are paid less," she said. In a stark comparison, she noted that even housekeeping staff often receive better pay than the MRB nurses.
The nurses are deprived of essential benefits like ESI (Employees' State Insurance) and other government-provided security nets. This precarious situation has forced some to seek opportunities abroad. "A few who lost hope in the government have travelled abroad for work, but not all of us can afford to fly overseas. Our only hope is to fight for our fundamental rights," Krithika asserted.
The protest comes at a personal cost to the participants. They are protesting daily, incurring a loss of pay, but remain resolute. They have vowed to continue their agitation until their demands are met, seeking dignity, job security, and the fulfilment of a political promise made to them.
