Doctors Association for Social Equality and the Tamil Nadu Government Primary Health Centre RCH Sanitation Workers Welfare Association. hunger struggle was held in Chennai to demand the immediate implementation of the Tamil Nadu government’s announcement to increase the monthly honorarium of Primary Health Centre RCH sanitation workers from ₹1,500 to ₹5,000, among other demands. Key Demands Highlighted in the Press Release: 1. Immediate Implementation of Increased Honorarium: During the April 2025 Assembly session, Honorable Minister for Health , Mr. M. Subramanian, announced that the monthly honorarium for RCH sanitation workers would be raised from ₹1,500 to ₹5,000. While we express our heartfelt gratitude for this announcement, the government order has not yet been issued. We demand its immediate release and the payment of ₹5,000 starting from April 2025. 2. Permanent Employment for Long-Serving Workers: Many RCH sanitation workers have been working for over 15 years with only ₹1,500 as monthly wages, without being posted as Multi-Purpose Hospital Workers. They must be posted as multi purpose hospital workers. 3. Retirement Benefits for Workers Above 60 Years: Sanitation workers who have crossed 60 years of age should be granted retirement benefits as announced by the Honorable Minister. If not, the pending dues should be calculated and paid as per the daily wage rates fixed by District Collectors under Government Order No. (D) 792 of the Public Health Department (2017). 4. Monthly Wage Instead of 27-Day Payment System: As per Government Order No. 604, Multi-Purpose Hospital Workers are paid only for a maximum of 27 days per month. This should be revised to provide full monthly wages and their services should be regularised. 5. District-Level Voluntary Transfer Counselling: Transfer counselling should be held in each district to allow workers to be posted near their homes. Deputation orders should be cancelled. 6. Equal Pay for Equal Work: Workers performing the same duties should receive equal wages. 7. Job Security: Sanitation workers must be given job security. 8. Permanent Employment as per Former CM’s Order: As per the special order issued by the late Honorable Chief Minister Dr. Kalaignar on 01.10.2010, RCH sanitation workers should be given permanent employment. 9. Weekly Offs and Government Holidays: Workers should be granted paid weekly offs and government holidays. 10. Pending COVID-19 Incentives: 459 RCH sanitation workers who served in COVID-19 wards during the pandemic have not yet received the promised incentive of ₹15,000 each. This should be disbursed immediately. Details of the Hunger Struggle: The hunger struggle was held today (10.08.2025) near the Rajaratnam Stadium on Rukmini Lakshmipathy Road, Egmore, Chennai. It was organized by the ,Tamil Nadu Government Primary Health Centre RCH Contract Sanitation Workers Welfare Association and the Doctors Association for Social Equality. Mr. N.S. Selvaraj, State President of the RCH Sanitation Workers Welfare Association presided over the hunger struggle. Dr. A.R. Shanthi, State General Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Medical Department Employees Federation and the RCH Sanitation Workers Welfare Association delivered the inagural speech. Comrade M. Radhakrishnan, State General Secretary of AITUC,Mr. P. Kalidasan, All India President of the Para Medical Lab Education and Welfare Association & State President of the Tamil Nadu Medical Department Employees Federation, Mr. S. Thanvanthan, State Vice President of the Para Medical Lab Education and Welfare Association, Sanitation Workers Association State Executive committee members Ms. S. Nila Oli, Mr. S. Vino, Ms. A. Eswari, Ms. Muthulakshmi, and Ms. Vijaya spoke about the demands.Dr. G.R. Ravindranath, General Secretary of the Doctors Association for Social Equality delivered the concluding address.
