In a circular that triggered backlash, a Delhi government hospital on Saturday asked the nursing staff employed there to desist from speaking in Malayalam, the language native to Kerala, as patients and colleagues do not understand it. The circular, issued by the G.B. Pant hospital, warned of "strict action" if the rules were flouted. A large section of the nurses across the country hail from Kerala.
As ANI reported, the circular states: "A complaint has been received regarding Malayalam language being used for communication in working places in GIPMER. Whereas maximum patient and colleagues do not know this language and feel helpless causing a lot of inconvenience. So, it is directed to all nursing personnel to use only Hindi and English for communication. Otherwise serious action will be taken."
G.B. Pant nurses' association president Liladhar Ramchandani told PTI that the circular was issued in pursuance of a complaint sent by a patient to a senior officer in the health department, regarding use of Malayalam language at the hospital, while adding that "the union disagrees with the wordings used in the circular".
At the same time, The Indian Express reported that Malayali nursing officer representatives from various Delhi hospitals including AIIMS, LNJP and GTB hospitals formed an ‘action committee’ on Saturday night which condemned the order and decided to launch a social media campaign against it.
