Chennai, April 5 (BPNS)

Tamil Nadu health minister, Ma Subramanian has assured striking nurses that the government would recruit them as and when vacancies arise.

He said that the government would recruit around 800 nurses for the time being and said that the 800 nurses are part of the 4000 nurses recruited on a contractual basis at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020.

The nurses were recruited by the health department to help handle Covid -19 cases. The Government had hired 4000 nurses but a few had left later and 3200 nurses remained on duty and have 800 vacancies at present.

Soumya, a striking nurse while speaking to BPNS said, “ We felt deceived by the government as they have extended the service of 3200 nurses but left out 800 of us and we have worked  tirelessly during Covid -19 period.”

Tamil Nadu health minister, Ma Subramanian while speaking to BPNS said, “The government is considerate of the demands of the nurses and doctors who had worked during the Covid -19 period. As and when the vacancies arise, we will consider providing them employment.”

However, nursing association leaders said that the government has to provide them jobs as they were assured of jobs by the government during the Covid -19.