Kerala - Kochi   

Nursing students seek a better deal

Staff Reporter

Poor infrastructure in schools, shortage of teachers alleged

SEEKING MORE FACILITIES: Student nurses staging a protest in front of the District Medical Office in the city on Tuesday. — Photo: Vipinchandran

KOCHI: Kerala Government Student Nurses Association held a protest in front of the District Medical Office here on Tuesday as part of the "Calling Attention Day" observed by the nurses with demands of improving the facilities at nursing schools and colleges.

According to the Association, the nursing schools should be recommended by the Indian Nursing Council for proper recognition.

This is not happening in many schools and the situation is rather pathetic. There are 18 nursing schools under the State Government's special component scheme.

Apart from the poor infrastructure facilities, starting from a proper building, there are many other problems including lack of teaching faculty.

The Health Department has to fulfil all the norms for an inspection of the school by the Council for which a fee needs to be given.

Stipend given to student nurses has been due for the last three years now, according to the association. The Union Government funds available for five schools have not been utilised for the development of the schools, allege the students.

Vacancies of teachers at the nursing schools have not been filled up for a long time in most of the schools. Students are paying from their own pockets for guest lecturers, for transport facility to go to field studies and also for maintenance of hostels.

Temporary appointment of nurses after completing studies follows a certain set of rules. However, last year the appointments were done flouting all these rules, allege the striking students.

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