CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday announced that more than 1,000 contract nurses would be regularised in the first phase, following a series of negotiations with protesting nursing associations. The decision, taken on the instructions of Chief Minister M K Stalin, has led to the withdrawal of the nurses’ agitation, Health and Family Welfare Minister Ma Subramanian said in a statement.

Contract nurses recruited through the Medical Services Recruitment Board (MRB) had been staging continuous protests demanding permanent appointments. Acting on the Chief Minister’s directions, the Health Minister held talks with representatives of the contract nurses on December 19 and 22, and again on December 24, after placing their demands before the Chief Minister.

Based on the latest round of discussions, the government has decided to clear pending promotions and create new posts to facilitate the appointment of existing contract nurses to permanent positions. “As an immediate step, over 1,000 contract nurses will soon be absorbed into regular service. The remaining nurses will be regularised in a phased manner,” the Minister said.

Highlighting the government’s record, Subramanian pointed out that of the 6,395 contract nurses appointed in 2015 during the previous AIADMK regime, only 1,871 were regularised up to 2020. In contrast, since the DMK government assumed office in 2021, as many as 4,825 contract nurses have been regularised over the past four-and-a-half years. In 2024 alone, 1,693 nurses were granted permanent status.

The Minister also detailed other welfare measures extended to nurses, including large-scale promotions. Over the last four years, 1,998 nurses have been promoted to Nursing Supervisor Grade II, 465 to Nursing Supervisor Grade I, and 62 to Nursing Tutor Grade II.

Significantly, the government is moving to extend paid maternity leave to contract nurses in line with the Central Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, through the National Health Mission. A government order in this regard is expected shortly.

The Health Minister further said that steps are under way to issue appointment orders to the remaining nurses recruited during the COVID-19 period and to resolve pending issues related to the enhanced monthly remuneration of contract nurses, which was increased from Rs 14,000 to Rs 18,000 in May 2021.

Welcoming the government’s assurance to regularise 1,000 nurses in the first phase, the protesting nurses have decided to call off their agitation, the Minister announced.