Members of the Tamil Nadu AIDS Control All Employees Welfare Association staged a protest at the Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society (Tansacs) urging the State government’s intervention against the Centre’s decision to shut down 186 Integrated Counselling and Testing Centres (ICTC) in the state. Additionally, they demanded a 10% salary increase for employees working in Primary Health Centres (PHCs).
The association’s State general secretary, M. Cheralathan, highlighted that while Tansacs employees in government medical college hospitals received a 10% salary hike in August 2022, those working in PHCs were excluded. The association urged for this increase to be extended to PHC staff, such as counsellors and laboratory technicians.
The demonstration pointed to a circular by the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) on July 5, which outlined the conversion of certain standalone ICTCs to screening facilities. Out of 5,081 ICTCs, 4,488 will remain standalone centres, and 593 will be converted. The process will involve ongoing assessments and potential staff deployments.