A Delhi government hospital, which stoked controversy after it issued a circular asking its nursing staff to not speak in Malayalam, has revoked its order on Sunday.
The circular, which was issued by Govind Ballabh Pant Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (GIPMER) on Saturday evening, stated that all nursing staff should only speak in Hindi and English and “strict action” would be taken against anyone speaking in other language.
It had barred its nurses, most of whom hail from Kerala, from speaking in Malayalam as "maximum patients and colleagues do not know this language".
"A formal order withdrawing the circular will be issued soon. The matter is being investigated and action will follow," medical director Dr Anil Agarwal told PTI on Sunday.
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The circular had received immense backlash with many people terming it as “bizarre” and “unconstitutional”.
Taking to Twitter, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor termed the circular as “a violation of the basic human rights of Indian citizens.”
“It boggles the mind that in democratic India a government institution can tell its nurses not to speak in their mother tongue to others who understand them. This is unacceptable, crude,offensive and a violation of the basic human rights of Indian citizens. A reprimand is overdue!” Tharoor tweeted.
Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh tweeted, “Absolutely, totally bizarre! This is unconstitutional, really...”
G B Pant nurses’ association president Liladhar Ramchandani claimed it 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".
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The circular stated, "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,” it reads.
Ramchandani, also the secretary general of Delhi Nurses Federation said, "As a language's name, Malayalam, has been inserted in the circular, many will take offence".
He also claimed that this circular was "consequent of the complaint filed by the patient" and "internally, there is no issue among the nurses and the administration".
Many nurses at various hospitals across India, hail from Kerala, with Malayalam being their native language.
The circular has drawn sharp criticism from other nursing unions too.
(With PTI inputs)
