The Kerala chapter of the Student Nurses’ Association of India conducted a candle light vigil in protest against the alleged move by the Kannur District Collector to deploy nursing students in place of the striking nurses.
The protest held in front of the collectorate declared solidarity with the agitation by nurses.
The association said that the move to deploy nursing students in place of nurses was akin to making those undergoing coaching for civil service exams the collectors of districts.
The protest organised under the aegis of the Student Nurses’ Association of India central zone B was inaugurated by association State secretary Renu Susan Thomas. Done Elias, secretary, central zone B, presided.
The association demanded the rollback of the move by the Kannur Collector and end to exploitation of nursing students. Collector Mir Mohammed Ali’s order as District Magistrate on July 16 directed the Principals of eight nursing colleges in the district to suspend the classes of students, except that of the first-year students, for five days from July 17 to 21 so as to deploy them to hospitals hit by the strike. The order was met with defiance from nursing students.
