Delhi govt hospital withdraws order barring nurses from speaking in Malayalam after flak

After facing severe backlash for its language diktat, Delhi govt-run Govind Ballabh Pant Institute of Postgruate Medical Education and Research (GIPMER) on Sunday, withdrew its circular forbidding its nursing personnel from communicating in Malayalam. hospital ministration has stated that circular was issued without ir information after being issued a memo from Delhi health department. hospital h previously clarified that nurses were allowed to speak to each or in Malayalam but must converse with patients in Hindi.

Delhi govt hospital withdraws Malayalam order

What was language order?

On Saturday, GIPMER issued a circular mandating Hindi or English as language of communication after receiving a complaint. Aimed at nursing staff which hails majorly from Kerala, hospital stated that 'maximum patients and colleagues do not understand Malayalam' and were 'feeling helpless'. hospital directed nursing staff to converse in Hindi or English only, warning m of serious consequences orwise. Nurses have criticised move and said y always talk to patients in Hindi.

"A complaint has been received regarding Malayalam language being used for communication in working places in GIPMER. Whereas maximum patients and colleagues do not know this language and feel helpless causing a lot of inconveniences. So it is directed all nursing personnel to use only Hindi and English for communication. Orwise, serious action will be taken,” res order.

This move h evoked sharp criticism from several Congress leers like Rahul Gandhi, Jairam Ramesh flagging discrimination. 'Malayalam is as Indian as any or Indian language. Stop language discrimination!', tweeted Wayan MP Rahul Gandhi, while Jairam Ramesh called it bizarre. Similarly, Shashi Tharoor called it 'unacceptable, crude, offensive and a violation of basic human rights of Indian citizens'.

Objecting to move, BJP leer Amit Malviya claimed that Kejriwal government was now targetting Kerala nurses after targeted people from UP and Bihar. Comparing Kejriwal to PM Modi, he said that Prime Minister h taken his first COVID vaccine jab from a Malayali nurse, fostering unity. ruling Kerala party - CPI(M) is yet to comment on it.

Incidentally, in January, ahe of 5 state elections, Kejriwal-led Delhi government set up Tamil, Marathi and Konkani acemies in national capital. Appreciating his move, DMK Supremo MK Stalin, CM E Palaniswami, and MNM chief Kamal Haasan h congratulated and thanked him. Kejriwal h replied to ir tweets in Tamil, emphasizing 'creating a multilingual Delhi'.