The Tamil Nadu Village Health Nurses Association held a state general body meeting in Coimbatore, discussing challenges with PICME 3.0 and demanding equal pay for male and female health workers.
Coimbatore: The Tamil Nadu Village Health Nurses Association conducted its state general body meeting at the Tamil Nadu Government Employees Association building in Thomas Club, Coimbatore. The meeting focused on various issues faced by village health nurses, including challenges with the newly implemented PICME 3.0 version and demands for equal pay.
C. Parameswari, State President of the Tamil Nadu Village Health Nurses Association, spoke to reporters about the key reasons for convening the general body meeting. She highlighted the problems with the new PICME 3.0 version, stating, "There are many issues with the newly created PICME 3.0 version. As per government order, pregnant women should be registered within 12 weeks. Until now, registration was done through Aadhaar, and an RCHID was obtained. However, in the current PICME 3.0 version, after Aadhaar registration, an OTP is sent to the mothers' mobile numbers. The RCHID can only be obtained after entering this OTP. But not all mothers have mobile phones, making the registration process difficult."
Parameswari emphasized that this delay in registration is causing poor and underprivileged people to face delays in receiving government benefits. She urged for simplification of the registration process in PICME 3.0 through the general body's recommendations.
The association also raised concerns about gender-based pay disparities in the public health department. Parameswari said, "Unlike other departments, there is a gender disparity in salaries in the public health department. Men and women are given different salaries. We have submitted a letter demanding equal pay, and we urge the government to consider and implement equal wages. Additionally, more than 2,500 vacant positions need to be filled quickly."
The association called for changes in the responsibilities of village health nurses, stating that they should not be solely accountable for all maternal and infant-related issues in villages. They also requested that documents related to maternal and infant deaths be sent via email to the relevant primary health centers to reduce the nurses' workload and expenses.
Other demands included the abolition of the New Pension Scheme and reinstatement of the Old Pension Scheme, as well as the appointment of data operators in sub-health centers. Parameswari concluded by acknowledging the government's welfare schemes for women but urged for specific attention to their department's needs, warning of further action if their demands are not met.
C. Parameswari, State President of the Tamil Nadu Village Health Nurses Association, spoke to reporters about the key reasons for convening the general body meeting. She highlighted the problems with the new PICME 3.0 version, stating, "There are many issues with the newly created PICME 3.0 version. As per government order, pregnant women should be registered within 12 weeks. Until now, registration was done through Aadhaar, and an RCHID was obtained. However, in the current PICME 3.0 version, after Aadhaar registration, an OTP is sent to the mothers' mobile numbers. The RCHID can only be obtained after entering this OTP. But not all mothers have mobile phones, making the registration process difficult."
Parameswari emphasized that this delay in registration is causing poor and underprivileged people to face delays in receiving government benefits. She urged for simplification of the registration process in PICME 3.0 through the general body's recommendations.
The association also raised concerns about gender-based pay disparities in the public health department. Parameswari said, "Unlike other departments, there is a gender disparity in salaries in the public health department. Men and women are given different salaries. We have submitted a letter demanding equal pay, and we urge the government to consider and implement equal wages. Additionally, more than 2,500 vacant positions need to be filled quickly."
The association called for changes in the responsibilities of village health nurses, stating that they should not be solely accountable for all maternal and infant-related issues in villages. They also requested that documents related to maternal and infant deaths be sent via email to the relevant primary health centers to reduce the nurses' workload and expenses.
Other demands included the abolition of the New Pension Scheme and reinstatement of the Old Pension Scheme, as well as the appointment of data operators in sub-health centers. Parameswari concluded by acknowledging the government's welfare schemes for women but urged for specific attention to their department's needs, warning of further action if their demands are not met.