Freed Indian nurses don’t mind dollar exchange loss
The Iraqi government has said that they are not in a position to disburse salaries in dollars
Thiruvananthapuram: Many of the 46 nurses who have returned from Tikrit are ready to receive the pending salaries in Iraqi riyal with a loss of 65 to 75 dollars each which they would incur on account of currency conversion charges.
The Indian consulate-general in Baghdad had recently received a cheque of 10,68,63,900 Iraqi dinars. The amount handed over by Iraq's health department consists of two months’ salary dues of 31 nurses and four-and-a-half-months’ salary dues of another 15 nurses.
While working in Iraq, the salaries of nurses were disbursed in US dollars. But because of the war-like situation prevailing there, the health department sanctioned the amount in dinars. This might result in a loss of 65 to 75 US dollars each to the nurses which comes to between Rs 3,900 and Rs 4,500.
Meanwhile, NORKA has sent separate e-mails to the 46 nurses seeking their consent for receiving the salaries in Iraqi riyals. NORKA CEO P. Sudip said that the department would contact the Indian consulate for further action once it gets the reply from the nurses.