Apollo nurses back after mother tongue slip

Two Indraprastha Apollo Hospital nurses,who were asked to resign for speaking in their ‘native tongue’ on hospital premises,have been taken back by the hospital authorities. The decision comes after the hospital’s move drew severe criticism and the nurses approached the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). The nurses,Jincy Joseph and Lijy Menon (names changed to protect identity) were posted in ICU of the Cardio Thoracic Vascular Surgery (CTVS) department. They were speaking in Malayalam in the lift lobby of the hospital and were reportedly heard by the nursing superintendent. Later,the nurses were asked to tender their resignations to the hospital.

Feeling insulted for communicating in their native language,the two nurses,led by Usha Krishna Kumar,president of the Malayali Nurses Welfare Association,had approached the NHRC.

The local guardian of Jincy,Jeena Pradeep said,“Yesterday,the Apollo chairman spoke to us. He was feeling sorry about the incident. He assured the hospital take the nurses back. We also asked the authorities not to inflict such a punishment to anyone in future.”