Chennai: In a bid to draw the attention of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to their long-standing demands, the Legal Coordination Committee for Government Doctors (LCC) has announced a march from Mettur in Salem to Chennai, scheduled for June 11.
The primary demand of the protesting doctors is the implementation of Government Order (G.O.) 354, which grants Pay Band–4 status to government doctors upon completing 12 years of service. The LCC emphasised that their agitation is not for a salary hike, but for enforcement of an existing directive.
Seeking Pay Parity with Central Counterparts
According to LCC President S. Perumal Pillai, both Central and State government doctors begin service on the same basic pay, but disparities emerge over time. After 13 years of service, a Central government doctor reportedly earns ₹1,23,000, whereas a Tamil Nadu government doctor draws only ₹86,000.
The LCC has been pressing the government since 2017 to apply G.O. 354 prospectively, ensuring State doctors receive the fourth pay scale — ₹1,23,000 — from the 13th year onward.
Call for Adequate Recruitment and Public Health Strengthening
The organisation also criticised the State’s focus on establishing new medical colleges without ensuring adequate staffing in existing government hospitals. It urged the appointment of more doctors, nurses, and medical personnel in proportion to patient load.
The LCC additionally called on the government to provide employment and financial relief to the wife of Dr. Vivekanandan, a government doctor who passed away during the COVID-19 pandemic.
March to Raise Public Awareness
During the march, LCC members plan to engage with the public, explain their demands, and highlight the urgent need to fortify Tamil Nadu’s public healthcare system. They have appealed to Chief Minister Stalin for immediate intervention and resolution of these issues.
