The nurses highlighted issues ranging from vacant teaching posts at government colleges to poor quality of education and inadequate infrastructure at private medical colleges.
Though the Union government had asked states to increase the minimum wages of nurses to Rs 20,000 in 2016, nurses in the state continue to be poorly paid.
A nurse in a private hospital in Karnataka earns just between Rs 3,000 and Rs 15,000 while in a government hospital, a nurse earns around Rs 10,000. This has led to a dearth of students opting for nursing studies in the state.
Over 5,000 nurses from across the state came together to voice their grievances at Town Hall on Friday. They had assembled as part of the International Nurses Day Jatha–2017 organised by Trained Nurses’ Association Of India (TNAI), Karnataka Branch. The nurses marched from Cubbon Park to Town Hall where they held discussions with doctors, lawyers and activists.
The nurses highlighted issues ranging from vacant teaching posts at government colleges to poor quality of education and inadequate infrastructure at private medical colleges.
“Around 80% of the teaching posts are vacant in 22 government colleges across the state. Also, the teachers who are deputed for teaching are contractual hospital staff who have no in-depth knowledge of the field,” said Girijamba Devi, secretary of TNAI, Karnataka.