J&K to have 3 new nursing colleges

Srinagar: On World Nursing Day, Jammu and Kashmir government said three new nursing colleges would be established in the state to meet the growing demand.

"The government is currently in process of establishing three nursing colleges at Baramulla, Rajouri and Anantnag with an intake capacity of 80 students every year," Minister of State for Health and Medical Education and Social Welfare Asiea Naqash said.

The minister was speaking at a function organized at Government Medical College here organized by J-K Nurses Association.

Naqash said there is a dearth of nursing colleges in the state and students had to go outside to pursue degrees in the field.

"Five general nursing schools are functional at various districts and government is in process of establishing more general, nursing schools at Pulwama, Kulgam, Sopore, JLNM Srinagar, Kokernag and Bandipora," the minister said.

The Minister also called for a high-tech training programme for the nursing students in the colleges and schools, saying the government is committed to provide facilities for the students. "The government already provides scholarships to the candidates desirous of undergoing training in private colleges, provided the college is affiliated with the government of J&K," she said.

On the occasion, the nurses pressed for meeting their demands including granting them technical grade at par with other states of the country.

"We want technical grade in place of class fourth grade. It is in place in every state of the country except J-K," president Nursing Association Parveena Khan said.

She said the other demands include giving the nurses non-practice allowance, uniform allowance, creation of posts and fulling up of higher posts and regularization of adhoc nurses.

The minister assured them the government would consider all the genuine demands of the nurses and asked them to come up with their grievances through proper channels so that their grievances could be considered.