Employees working under the Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam scheme in Erode district submitted a petition to the district administration on Monday (June 22, 2026), seeking an increase in their monthly remuneration and alleging irregular disbursal of wages.

According to the petitioners, 323 workers are engaged under the scheme in the district, undertaking door-to-door visits and conducting basic health screenings and related services. They said the remuneration, which was initially fixed at ₹3,500 a month, was later increased to ₹5,500 following a series of protests by workers.

The employees alleged that even the revised remuneration was not being paid regularly. They said the nature of their work had expanded considerably since the scheme was launched and that they were required to perform a range of tasks beyond those initially outlined.

The workers further stated that they incurred travel expenses while visiting beneficiaries in different locations and had to meet these costs from their monthly remuneration. Seeking a wage revision, they urged the government to increase their monthly pay to ₹15,000 and ensure timely disbursal of salaries.