The fasting protest by nurses at Egmore in Chennai was temporarily withdrawn early Tuesday following their agitation over various demands, including job security and equal pay for equal work.
More than 500 nurses belonging to the Tamil Nadu Intermediate Health Workers Association participated in the protest held near Rajarathinam Maidan on Monday. They raised slogans seeking permanent employment and higher wages for intermediate health workers.
The protesters said the salary of Rs. 21,000 being paid to nurses was inadequate. They also demanded paid maternity leave for intermediate health nurses and implementation of the Chief Minister’s election promise to provide promotional opportunities for intermediate health workers.
Former Minister Mano Thangaraj extended support to the protest on behalf of the DMK.
Efforts by the government to hold talks with representatives of the nurses’ association failed. Subsequently, police took some of the association representatives to a hall in Triplicane.
On learning about this, the nurses at the protest venue staged a road blockade demanding their release. Police attempted to disperse and arrest the protesters after they refused to leave despite repeated instructions. The move was later abandoned following strong opposition from the protesters.
The nurses subsequently announced that the protest had been temporarily withdrawn. They warned that the agitation would be resumed after November 3 if the government failed to accept their demands.
