Nurses' strike: Section 144 imposed in Kannur, students deputed to hospitals

The Kannur district collector has imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code Nursing colleges have been asked to depute all students, except freshers, in private hospitals in the district from Monday The hospitals have been asked pay Rs 150 to the students daily to bear their expenses

The Kannur district administration has initiated strong measures to tackle the strike being staged by nurses of private hospitals in the region.

The district collector has imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) in the district and has directed nursing colleges to depute all students, except freshers, in private hospitals in the district from Monday onwards in place of the protesting nurses. 

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The collector has urged all nursing colleges in the district to stop classes for five days from Monday. More than 150 nursing students from eight nursing colleges in the district will be made available to 10 private hospitals.

The hospitals have been asked pay Rs 150 to the students daily to bear their expenses. The collector informed the colleges to take strict action against students who do not appear for duty at the hospitals and also dismiss from the course if necessary.

The district administration decided to take such a tough stand after the nurses refused to reach a compromise in the meeting with the collector on Sunday. 

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Though the United Nurses Association (UNA) has agreed to suspend the proposed indefinite strike till Wednesday, the Indian Nursing Association (INA) has refused to budge and informed that they would go ahead with the agitation in Kannur and Kasaragod.

The nurses have been protesting for the last three weeks. The strike was called for by the UNA and INA, demanding minimum wages of Rs 20,000 for nurses as fixed by the Supreme Court.