TN: Overworked Health Scheme Volunteers Throng Chennai, Demand Regularisation

Volunteers of Tamil Nadu’s Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam health scheme held a large rally and demonstration in Chennai on February 8, and placed an 18-point charter focusing on the need to regularise their jobs and increase the pay.

From all across the southern state, more than 2,000 health volunteers participated in the protest while wearing pink overcoats. Around 11,000 people are working as volunteers under the state government-run scheme.

The volunteering women work for a monthly pay of Rs 4,500. The Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam Workers’ Association, affiliated with the Centre for Indian Trade Unions (CITU), demanded the state government give a minimum wage of Rs 26,000 per month.

Speaking at the protest, CITU state president A Soundararajan said. “The contribution of the scheme workers is significant on behalf of the health department of Tamil Nadu”.

Their work involves providing medicines at the doorstep and checking the sugar level and blood pressure of patients. They update the screening details on a dedicated mobile application, write scanning cards and attend review meetings. They also work in health camps, maternity wards and other departments.

Volunteers were recruited to the scheme for two hours per day, but due to the heavy workload, they now work full-time, and without any leave.

Health volunteers from Tiruvarur district. Image courtesy: CITU, Tamil Nadu

Soundararajan warned, “If the government does not fulfil the workers’ demands, we will mobilise the Asha, Anganwadi and other scheme workers and organise a huge strike”.

“Placing our demands, we met the state health minister on January 27, and he promised to consider some of them. But the state and central governments are indifferent to workers’ issues,” said G Sukumaran, general secretary of Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam Workers’ Association.

“The state government is proudly announcing that the scheme has reached 1 crore people. This protest is a reminder that it was not possible without the 10,000+ workers,” said Dhanalakshmi, the head of the women's coordination committee.

Around one crore people have benefited from the Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam so far, said Minister for Health, Ma Subramanian in December 2022.

Ahead of the state-wide protest, the association held agitations in district capitals to attract the attention of the Tamil Nadu government.

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s (DMK) flagship programme to deliver essential healthcare to the doorstep of people was launched by Chief Minister M K Stalin in August 2021 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

There has been good reception of the scheme among the public.