Physiotherapists in Tamil Nadu are expressing qualified approval following the state government's decision to raise monthly salaries for those involved in the 'Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam' initiative. The pay for these professionals, who deliver home-based therapy services, will now stand at ₹23,000.
This adjustment marks a significant change from the previous structure, which offered an incentive of ₹4,500 for serving five beneficiaries daily. The Indian Association of Physiotherapists - Tamil Nadu Branch (TN IAP), the group representing these workers, has put forth further demands.
The association is calling for improved benefits and a guarantee of timely payments. Beyond the immediate salary hike, they advocate for the establishment of state-wide helpline numbers. This would enable beneficiaries to directly request services, bypassing potential bureaucratic delays.
Further complicating the landscape, the TN IAP highlighted the precarious status of physiotherapists operating within Urban Primary Health Centres. Currently employed on an 'outsourcing basis', the association is urging their integration into the 'District Health Society'. This move, they argue, should also bring them into alignment with the new salary structure observed under the Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam scheme.
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A particularly stark point raised concerns physiotherapists working with children facing intellectual disabilities. These individuals, involved with the 'Integrated School Education Scheme', have reportedly seen no pay revision for the past six years. The TN IAP is pressing for immediate action to rectify this situation.