CHENNAI:A section of staff nurses who came for transfer counselling from various districts of Tamil Nadu on Wednesday, staged a road roko for over 20 minutes alleging irregularities in counselling.
The transfer counselling for over 1,000 vacancies across the State in various Primary Health Centres, Government taluk, headquarters and medical college hospitals were conducted by the Health Department. Over 3,000 staff nurses attended the counselling which started around 10.30 am at the Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services campus.
Around 12.30 pm, a section of staff nurses blocked traffic alleging non-transparency in counselling. “Around 400 vacancies in southern regions like Madurai, Thoothukudi, Theni, Kanniyakumari, Tirunelveli and Virudhunagar were not shown,” said one of the protestors. “Candidates with four years of experience in the present institution are eligible to attend the counselling. But, people with even less than one year of service are easily getting transfers, when candidates with over 10 years of service don’t get it. People who pay money are getting transfer with ease,” alleged another male nurse. The police intervened and pacified the protestors. The staff nurse also said, “The police took five nurses for talks with the Director of Medical and Rural Health Services, threatened and sent back,” he said. Counselling for candidates less than four years of service will be conducted on Thursday.
Speaking to Express, K Sengottuvan, Director of Medical and Rural Health Services said, “There are around 925 vacancies. The counselling is being conducted transparently. There are not 400 vacancies in southern regions. Transfers are a routine business and it is done when there is need.”