‘No Malayalam at work’: Delhi hospital rescinds order to nurses

Nurses head for a week-long duty in Covid-19 wards at a hospital in Bengaluru. Representation pic/PTI

Facing flak over a circular asking its nursing staff not to use Malayalam at work, the Delhi government-run G B Pant hospital on Sunday revoked the order and said strict action will be taken in the matter. "The circular which was issued by the nursing superintendent, G B Pant hospital, without any instructions or knowledge of the hospital administration and the Delhi government stands withdrawn with immediate effect," read a new order issued by Medical Director Dr Anil Agarwal.

"The matter is being investigated and strict action will follow," Dr Agarwal told PTI. The circular issued on Saturday read, "A complaint has been received regarding Malayalam language being used for communication in working places in GIPMER. Maximum patients and colleagues do not know this language and feel helpless causing a lot of inconvenience. So, all nursing personnel are directed to use only Hindi and English for communication. Otherwise, serious action will be taken."

An official of the G B Pant nurses' association said there are around 850 nurses working at the hospital, of which around 400 are Malayali. The association's president, Liladhar Ramchandani, claimed the circular was issued based on a complaint sent by a patient to a senior officer in the health department, regarding use of Malayalam language at the hospital, while adding that "the union disagrees with the wordings used in the circular". The circular invited criticism from the medical fraternity, political leaders and the public. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called for stopping language discrimination. Party leader Shashi Tharoor said that the order was "unacceptable, crude, offensive and a violation of the basic human rights of Indian citizens".

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