Delayed elections for nursing council depriving nurses of opportunities in Telangana

HYDERABAD: Nursing Association of Telangana has complained that nurses in the state are not being provided employment benefits or facilities to upgrade their skills. Their condition is thus much neglected when compared to nurses of other states.

Lack of elections for the nursing council and there being only a registrar is posing problems for nurses in terms of contract jobs, upgrading skills and availing Covid-19 incentives, said convener of nursing association Laxman Rudawat.
“Conducting elections is important, as the recognised body can then authoritatively work for welfare of the nursing community. After bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, nurses have no representative body in the TS state. While in AP, they have had two rounds of elections and have a fully functional nursing council,” Laxman Rudawat remarked.

He pointed out that though a building has been constructed for the nursing council, there has been no elective body since the last seven years to run the council.
On RTI queries filed by nurses over non-conduct of elections, the TS government has replied that no one had come forward to contest the elections. The Nursing Association of Telangana contested this stand saying there has not even been a notification for holding council elections.

Laxman Rudawat said due to these problems, the nursing fraternity has suffered in both the job sector and upgrading of skills. This is making it difficult for them to compete with other states, which have excelled.