Nursing staff of the Government Medical College Hospital here staged protests inside the hospital, demanding that the government revoke an order for the redeployment of nursing staff from new medical college hospitals to other institutions.

G.O. 204 ordered the redeployment of 20 staff nurses from Krishnagiri Government Medical College Hospital to Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College Hospital, Salem.

Similarly, a bunch of nursing staff are being redeployed from smaller new medical college hospitals to large medical college hospitals.

The protesters, who wore black badges, also demanded dismantling of contractual jobs and regularise all nursing staff currently under contractual employment.

The protesters also demanded that the term staff nurse be replaced with Nursing Officer and a G.O. be released describing the job description.

Kangayam MLA N.S.N. Nataraj has urged the district administration to resume and expedite the stalled widening works on the Erode–Perundurai Junction (SH-19) road and restore regular drinking water supply to Chennimalai and surrounding areas in Erode district that fall within his Assembly constituency.

In a representation submitted to District Collector S. Kandasamy on Friday (July 31), Mr. Nataraj said the road-widening project had come to a standstill, with works remaining incomplete at several locations. The delay had affected traffic movement and posed safety concerns for motorists and pedestrians, he said.

He said the pending embankment and road-widening works at the SH-90 crossing the Lower Bhavani Project canal should be completed before the scheduled release of irrigation water. Any further delay could hamper canal operations and disrupt irrigation, affecting the livelihood of thousands of farmers, he added.

The MLA also highlighted the acute drinking water shortage in Chennimalai and nearby areas, attributing it to inadequate supply amid prevailing dry conditions. Residents, particularly women and senior citizens, were facing hardship in meeting their daily water requirements, he said.

He urged the district administration to restore regular drinking water supply immediately, augment the existing supply wherever necessary, make alternative arrangements in the interim, and evolve a permanent solution to the recurring problem.

Stating that both issues were directly linked to public welfare and essential civic services, Mr. Nataraj sought the Collector’s immediate intervention and urged the authorities concerned to take prompt remedial measures.