Health Volunteers Demand Fair Pay

Women Health Volunteers (WHV) working under the Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam scheme are urging the State government to significantly increase their incentive payments and regularize their employment. Approximately 750 WHVs staged a demonstration in Chennai on Wednesday, submitting petitions to officials across various districts.

For over five years, these volunteers have conducted extensive door-to-door health screenings for blood pressure and sugar, providing medicine kits to about three crore people. They also undertake outpatient-related tasks at health sub-centres and urban primary health centres, often exceeding their defined roles.

The volunteers, numbering around 12,000 statewide, currently receive an incentive of ₹5,500. They are demanding this be raised to ₹15,000, alongside a transition from their 'volunteer' status to permanent 'health staff' or 'employees'. Additional concerns include covering personal expenses for fuel, data, and stationery.

The association is also calling for established workload norms and a change in nomenclature from 'volunteers' to 'health staff/employees'. Their demands focus on better compensation and job security for their continued service.