No provision to regularise services, TANSACS contractual employees told

The Tamil Nadu AIDS Control All Employees Welfare Association was reportedly informed that there was no provision to regularise the contractual staff working in various positions under the Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society (TANSACS).

Association president M. Jayanthi said they have long urged the State government to make the 2,400-odd staff working as counsellors, laboratory technicians, pharmacists, staff nurses, community care coordinators, and administration staff permanent. “We have been working under TANSACS for 20 years. We do not get any benefits including pension and medical cover,” she said.

She recalled that during the 2016 elections, the then DMK chief M. Karunanidhi promised to regularise contract staff. The demand continued during the AIADMK regime. In 2021, the DMK promised to regularise services of contract employees, but nothing has happened so far, she said.

In a response to the association’s call for protests, the Project Director of TANSACS, in a letter, clarified that TANSACS functions under the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO). The National AIDS Control Programme (NACP), implemented in five phases, will conclude its fifth phase in March 2026.

According to NACO guidelines, employees are appointed on a contract basis for specific purpose and duration and are paid a consolidated salary. NACP concludes at the end of its project duration, and so, there are no provisions to regularise or continue contract positions beyond the project period. Contract employees are not entitled to any benefits or perks available to government employees.

In response to the demands of the association, TANSACS said there are no provisions for permanent employment, government benefits, service regularisation, or pension benefits under this programme. All employees working in TANSACS are appointed on a contract basis, and their contract will be extended only for the duration of the programme in accordance with NACO guidelines. Contracts are renewed annually, and employment opportunities are provided accordingly. NACO has not created any permanent positions in this programme, the letter said.

Ms. Jayanthi said that the association would continue to protest demanding permanent employment.