Chennai, Dec 31 (NationPress) Contract nurses, hired through the Medical Services Recruitment Board (MRB) in Tamil Nadu, have officially terminated their extended protest following the state government’s promise of permanent positions and other long-overdue benefits.

The demonstrations, which persisted for several days statewide, reached a resolution after discussions with senior government officials and Health Minister Ma Subramanian.

Thousands of nurses employed in government hospitals and primary health centres had been engaged in continuous protests, advocating for the regularization of their services.

The demonstrators, primarily appointed temporarily through the MRB, had been pursuing permanent status for several years.

On December 18, hundreds of nurses convened in Chennai, conducting a significant demonstration near Chepauk, emphasizing that despite years of dedicated service, their demands had gone unaddressed.

As per the Tamil Nadu Nurses Development Association, the issue has been ongoing for nearly a decade.

Between 2014 and 2015, the MRB employed nurses on a temporary basis, assuring them of regularization after two years of service.

Since then, approximately 15,300 nurses have been appointed through this method. While nearly 7,000 have been integrated into permanent positions, about 8,300 still remain on contractual terms.

The protesting nurses highlighted that the DMK, while in opposition, had committed in its 2021 Assembly election manifesto to regularizing all temporary nurses.

Clause 356 of the manifesto explicitly promised to fill vacant positions in government hospitals and to regularize contract-based doctors and nurses.

However, as the government approaches the conclusion of its term, the nurses claimed that this promise remains unfulfilled.

The protests escalated when police presence at protest locations surpassed that of demonstrators, with numerous nurses alleging intimidation.

Despite this, the protesters persisted with their demonstrations, including a hunger strike in Chennai.

After preliminary discussions with senior officials failed, the government conducted extensive dialogues with representatives of the nurses’ associations under the guidance of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin.

Following these discussions, Health Minister Subramanian confirmed that the government would commence steps to regularize contract nurses in phases.

He verified that over 1,000 nurses would be integrated into permanent roles immediately, with additional appointments to follow.

Outstanding promotions will also be addressed, and new positions will be created as necessary.

Upon receiving the government's assurance, the nurses’ associations declared the cessation of their protest, expressing optimism that the commitments would be fulfilled promptly.