Kerala govt asks nurses to give up indefinite agitation plan

The Kerala government today asked private hospital nurses, who are planning an indefinite strike from July 17 demanding higher wages, to give up their agitation.
Health Minister K K Shylaja said here that the government had limitations in dealing with the issues connected to private hospital managements.
The government has already done what it can do, in the initial stage, she said.
The minister's statement comes in the wake of the Kerala High Court restraining nurses' organisations from holding the indefinite stir, based on a petition filed by association of private hospitals.
Marxist veteran V S Achuthanandan and opposition leader in the state assembly Ramesh Chennithala have sought immediate intervention of the government to end the agitation.

While Achuthanandan wanted the government to give directions to hospital managements to hike the wages of nurses as per the Supreme Court guidelines, Chennithala said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan should hold talks with nurses' associations and hospital management representatives to end the stalemate.

Functioning of private hospitals in Kerala is likely to be hit with an estimated 80,000 nurses deciding to go on indefinite strike from July 17.
The strike call was given by United Nurses Association and Indian Nurses Association demanding minimum wages of Rs 20,000 as fixed by the Supreme Court.
Private hospital managements have said they would be able to provide only emergency services from Monday in view of the strike call.