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Delhi Hospital Official Apologises Over Controversial 'Don't Speak In Malayalam' Order

On June 5, the Delhi hospital had issued a circular directing all its nursing personnel to use only Hindi and English for communication and warned of serious action if not done.

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Ria Das
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Delhi hospital Malayalam circular case: A week after issuing a controversial order against the use of Malayalam language by nursing personnel, the nursing superintendent of the Govind Ballabh Pant Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (GIPMER) in Delhi, has apologised for the remark. The Malayali nurses union in Delhi had demanded a written apology after the circular, which barred nursing staff from speaking in Malayalam on duty and led to a huge row last week. The hospital later revoked the circular.
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On June 5, the Delhi hospital had issued a circular directing all its nursing personnel to use only Hindi and English for communication and warned of serious action if not done. The circular was later withdrawn, news agency ANI reported. "The circular was issued in a positive sense and there was no bad intention against Malayali-speaking staff," the statement also noted.

Delhi hospital Malayalam circular case:

According to the nursing superintendent, the circular was "misinterpreted" in its true sense. "I didn't get a chance to explain. If any staff's feeling got hurt by using word of Malayalam in the said circular, I apologise," it said in a note which was posted on Twitter by news agency ANI. The official also explained the reasons behind issuing the circular and said, "I will be more careful and vigilant in future." Read how this Odisha nurse quit her job to cremate COVID-19  bodies alongside her husband here.

The official claimed to have acted on the basis of complaints received dating May 31, June 1 and June 2. "It was really shocking for us," Fameer CK, representative of Delhi Action Committee of Malayali Nurses, had told ANI last week. She further condemned the issuing of such notice saying that it is a threat to "our linguistic freedom". Her fellow workers also demanded an apology from the concerned person as Fameer says "they have humiliated the whole state". She added that a "serious action" should be taken against such "misconduct." Read why selfless frontline nurses like Lini Puthussery deserve recognition here.

The circular was issued without any instructions or knowledge of the Hospital Administration and Delhi Government and was withdrawn with immediate effect, read the new circular issued by Medical Superintendent, GB Pant Institute on Wednesday (June 9).

Future Image Credit: India Today

Delhi hospital GB Pant Malayali nurses
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