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Hundreds of Mid-Level Healthcare providers (MHLP) protesting in Chennai over demands including permanent employment and equal pay for equal work were detained by the police, prompting sharp criticism from opposition leaders. The protest was later temporarily deferred until November 3, following talks between the government and nurses’ representatives.
Members of the Tamil Nadu Mid-Level Healthcare Providers’ Union staged a hunger strike near Rajarathinam Stadium in Egmore on Monday, October 5, with more than 500 nurses participating and raising slogans demanding that the government address their grievances.
The MLHPs, who work at Health and Wellness Centres across Tamil Nadu, are seeking permanent employment, job security, equal pay for equal work and a monthly salary of Rs 45,000. The union has also demanded payment of pending incentives for 2023 and 2024, paid maternity leave, medical leave, higher incentives for services provided at wellness centres and promotional opportunities. It has sought to redesignate MLHPs as Community Health Officers (CHOs), along with certificates recognising the designation.
According to the union, 4,848 MLHPs are currently working on a contractual basis across the state. Recruited in 2021, they provide services including antenatal care, immunisation, emergency referrals, adolescent care, family welfare, outpatient care, non-communicable disease management, and activities under the National Health Mission.
Union president N Sundari said MLHPs were paid Rs 21,000 in Tamil Nadu despite doing a range of healthcare work. She said salaries and incentives for similar workers were higher in several other states. The union cited corresponding payments of Rs 55,000 in Maharashtra, Rs 70,000 in Haryana, Rs 45,000 in Madhya Pradesh, Rs 62,000 in Karnataka and Rs 43,000 in Andhra Pradesh. The union has also said that a 5% increment remains unpaid since 2023.
Former Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) minister Mano Thangaraj, who participated in the protest on behalf of the Constitution Protection Movement, extended his support to the nurses.
When asked why the demands had not been addressed during the previous DMK regime, Thangaraj said he was participating in the protest as part of a movement working to protect people’s rights and declined to comment on the previous government.
Representatives detained
As the protest continued, government officials attempted to hold talks with representatives of the nurses. However, according to the protesters, some union leaders who went for negotiations at the Secretariat were instead taken by the police to a marriage hall in Triplicane. The protesters demanded that the leaders be released and said they would not withdraw from the protest.
With the agitation allegedly continuing beyond the permitted time, police warned the protesters to disperse. The protesters refused, leading to an attempt by the police to clear the protest site. According to the protesters, police also switched off the electricity supply at the protest venue and began removing the protest setups.
Around 8.30 pm, police attempted to detain the protesting nurses and began taking them towards buses. The nurses resisted the move and sat on the road, preventing the buses from leaving. This led to a confrontation and pushing between the police and protesters. Some of the protesters allege they were manhandled, and the police subsequently abandoned the attempt to detain the group after they were unable to disperse them.
Opposition condemns police action
Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin condemned the police handling of the protest. He alleged that the police had used force against nurses demanding permanent employment and equal pay for equal work. He also accused the government of restricting the protesters to a small area, cutting off electricity and using police action against them. He further demanded that the government invite protesters for talks and take steps to address their demands.
Former Chief Minister and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami also condemned the police action, alleging the government had dealt with the nurses' peaceful protest in an unacceptable manner. He questioned why the Health Minister had not met the protesting nurses and accused the government of adopting one approach towards the nurses before coming to power and another after assuming office.
Following discussions with Health and Family Welfare Secretary Darez Ahamed late on Monday night, the nurses' union agreed to withdraw the hunger strike temporarily. The union decided to wait until November 3, after the government assured action on their demands. The union said it would resume its agitation nationwide if their demands are not met by November 3.
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