Members of the district branch of the Tamil Nadu Health Department All Employees and Health Workers' Association went observed a daylong fast in front of the Government Headquarters Hospital here on Saturday, in support of their 27-point charter of demands.
Their demands, among other things, included filling up of posts in the C and D categories lying vacant for a prolonged period; constitution of an exclusive housing corporation on the lines of the welfare measures for police personnel; payment of cash, instead of cloth, for uniforms; announcement of risk allowance and compulsory leave for ‘C' and ‘D' group employees; and introduction of seniority and educational qualification- based promotion policy.
A. Ramanathan, State secretary of Action Committee, who inaugurated the stir, said that a number of posts in ‘C' and ‘D' group had got lapsed since 1980 due to non-filling up of the same. The Health Department should fill up all the posts without omission for ensuring efficiency in the delivery of health care schemes.
S. Mohamad Abdullah, district president of the association, said that a number of ‘C' and ‘D' employees attached to a few wards such as tuberculosis, were prone to health risk. Although health risk allowance and compulsory annual leave for a month's time were sanctioned for nurses attached to these wards, similar benefit had not been extended to the ‘C' and ‘D' group employees.
R. Mani, district advisor, M. Pari, branch president and S. Samipillai, branch secretary, Aranthangi were among those who spoke.
