Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Mr. Oommen Chandy has urged External Affairs Minister Suhsma Swaraj to relax the fresh restrictions on nursing recruitment to those nurses who obtained visas prior to May 30.
Many nurses who obtained the visas before the fresh restrictions came into effect on May 30 were not able to go abroad as emigration authorities denied emigration clearance citing the fresh norms.
This prompted the Chief Minister to take up the matter with the External Affairs minister who earlier announced that relaxations would be offered.
In a letter written to Ms. Swaraj, the Chief Minister reminded her that she had earlier assured that emigration clearance would be granted to nurses who obtained visas though genuine channels prior to the fresh restrictions coming into effect.
The Chief Minister also expressed the fear that the present stalemate in overseas recruitment of nurses to 18 GCC countries would affect future job prospects of Indians.
“Apart from Kuwait, no other foreign countries had yet taken any steps toward recruitment of nurses from India as per the fresh norms. The centre should take immediate steps to sort out this issue,” Mr. Chandy said in the letter.
