File photo of Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy
To further the cause of rehabilitating the nurses who have been evacuated from war-torn Iraq and in the process of being evacuated from Libya, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today met 20 business representatives from the healthcare sector to shore up support.
"It is a humanitarian crisis and each one of your support is required to ensure that the nurses get jobs back in their state. This is also a matter of nation's pride," Mr Chandy told the business delegates.
The Chief Minister has also asked banks to waiver any interest payments on education loans taken by the nurses, requesting them to consider only the principal amount. Mr Chandy will also be convening a meeting with representatives from the banking sector on August 8th.
While around 350 nurses who have returned from Iraq have registered with the government helpline, another 200 nurses yet to return from Libya have sought evacuation. Evacuation processes are likely to begin from Friday and the first batch of nurses would be taken to Tunisia, according to authorities.
"The business leaders have been positive with pledging their support. We are currently in a position to offer all the nurses jobs in Kerala. But if they need jobs abroad, then they need to pass the qualifying exams and therefore provisions are being made to ensure they can be coached for the same with courses," Kerala Minister for Rural Development, Planning & Culture KC Joseph said.
Several nurses who were evacuated from Iraq and mostly are breadwinners for their families, have refused jobs offered within Kerala owing to low remuneration and interest-heavy loans.
"It is a humanitarian crisis and each one of your support is required to ensure that the nurses get jobs back in their state. This is also a matter of nation's pride," Mr Chandy told the business delegates.
The Chief Minister has also asked banks to waiver any interest payments on education loans taken by the nurses, requesting them to consider only the principal amount. Mr Chandy will also be convening a meeting with representatives from the banking sector on August 8th.
While around 350 nurses who have returned from Iraq have registered with the government helpline, another 200 nurses yet to return from Libya have sought evacuation. Evacuation processes are likely to begin from Friday and the first batch of nurses would be taken to Tunisia, according to authorities.
"The business leaders have been positive with pledging their support. We are currently in a position to offer all the nurses jobs in Kerala. But if they need jobs abroad, then they need to pass the qualifying exams and therefore provisions are being made to ensure they can be coached for the same with courses," Kerala Minister for Rural Development, Planning & Culture KC Joseph said.
Several nurses who were evacuated from Iraq and mostly are breadwinners for their families, have refused jobs offered within Kerala owing to low remuneration and interest-heavy loans.
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