Chennai: With the Tamil Nadu government having recently posted 841 Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) sanitation workers as multipurpose hospital workers on a consolidated monthly pay of ₹18,000, the Tamil Nadu PHC RCH Contract Sanitary Workers’ Welfare Association has urged the government to extend the same benefit to the remaining workers across the state.
Association leaders G.R. Ravindranath (honorary president) and A.R. Shanthi (general secretary) met Health Minister Ma. Subramanian on Tuesday to express their gratitude for the government’s progressive steps so far. They particularly appreciated the increase in the consolidated pay for RCH sanitation workers from ₹1,500 to ₹5,000 per month, calling it a welcome move.
However, they noted that over 1,500 RCH sanitation workers are yet to be upgraded to the status of multipurpose hospital workers and continue to work under precarious contractual conditions.
“We thank the government for its initiative, but urge the Health Minister to ensure equal treatment and pay for all RCH sanitary workers, many of whom have served the public for years without adequate recognition,” the association stated in a memorandum.
The association reiterated that regularising all remaining workers and offering them the ₹18,000 monthly consolidated pay would not only ensure justice but also strengthen health infrastructure in rural areas where Primary Health Centres (PHCs) remain the first point of care.
