Wed Dec 24 15:19:24 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:

Summary:

Nurses in Tamil Nadu, India, have suspended their week-long statewide protest after the state government agreed to several of their key demands. These include making 1,000 nurses permanent employees, settling pending benefits, increasing consolidated pay, reinstating nurses dismissed after the COVID-19 pandemic, filling vacant supervisor and tutor positions, creating new permanent posts, and a phased transition of consolidated pay nurses into permanent roles. The government also assured that there would be no repercussions for nurses who participated in the strike.

News Article:

Tamil Nadu Nurses Suspend Statewide Strike After Government Concessions

MADURAI, INDIA – December 24, 2025 – A seven-day statewide protest by nurses in Tamil Nadu has been called off following an announcement by the state government addressing their core demands. N. Subin, State General Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Nurses Empowerment Association, announced the suspension of the strike at a press conference held at Madurai Medical College on Wednesday.

The breakthrough came after negotiations with the government, led by Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ma. Subramanian, who had previously cited “zero vacancies.” The government has now committed to making 1,000 nurses permanent employees. Mr. Subin stated, “We felt relieved that the government has got the list for initiating the process, and the Finance Department has given its clearance.”

Further concessions secured by the nurses include the settlement of pending benefits such as maternity leave before the Pongal festival. Consolidated pay for government hospital nurses, recently increased from ₹14,000 to ₹18,000, will also be retroactively applied as arrears.

The government has also assured the reinstatement of 724 nurses who were dismissed after serving during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, 266 nursing supervisor grade II positions and 146 nursing tutor positions will be filled through counselling. Plans are also in place to create new permanent posts in 37 critical care buildings at government hospitals and transition approximately 8,000 consolidated pay nurses into permanent roles in a phased manner.

In a final assurance, the government has pledged that no disciplinary action will be taken against nurses who participated in the strike, and no salary will be deducted for the duration of the protest.

The suspension of the strike brings relief to the state’s healthcare system after a week of disruption.

Read More