Karnataka: New rule stumps nursing students
With 90% of the students coming from outside the state, the order and recent developments have put their future in jeopardy.
Bengaluru: With nursing colleges in the state facing derecognition from the Indian Nursing Council (INC), more than two lakh nursing students who have taken admissions in these colleges recently are in a fix. The managements are also equally affected as the new students are demanding fee refunds to join colleges outside the state.
Prof Girijamba Devi, secretary, Karnataka chapter of Trained Nurses Association of India (TNAI), points to the reason behind the “panic situation” to a government order in December 2016, stating that colleges need not take permission from INC, instructing them to take the approval only from the Karnataka Nursing Council (KNC) and Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS). “Recognition from the apex body of nursing (INC) is essential for students and professionals for a smooth career both within and outside the country. This order will lead to the collapse of the nursing sector itself and this needs to be addressed immediately,” she said.
The government issued another order in January which reaffirmed the decision in spite of repeated warnings from the INC, making the situation worse, she said.
At the same time, top officials from RGUHS ascertained that their opinion was not sought by the government before making such an “illogical” decision. “The government had to meet at least college principals and officials from the health university before confirming to hold on to a hasty decision. We have brought the issue to the notice of the medical education minister and are also waiting for the verdict from the high court on the case filed by TNAI,” said a syndicate member of RGUHS. Following the norms of the apex body (INC) is essential to maintain to the standards of the industry which in turn affects the survival of the nursing fraternity, the member said.
The managements of various nursing institutes and students will hold protests across the state next week against the delay in verdict from the High Court and the unresponsive state authorities. “As many as 120 colleges have sent letters to the government, requesting an immediate withdrawal of the controversial order,” said a board member of a leading nursing college in the city seeking anonymity.
“We have been pointing it out to the government and top officials of RGUHS, but our voices have been neglected. The situation has now gone from bad to worse,” he said.
With 90% of the students coming from outside the state, the order and recent developments have put their future in jeopardy. “I took up this course and decided to do masters here, hoping for a well settled future somewhere abroad. The current situation stops me from even working outside Karnataka,” said Reena, a student from Kerala. Divya, another student, believes that such a decision is a breach of her rights to decide for herself. “How can the government decide that I should work within the state throughout my life,” she asked.