Fight exploitation, Kodiyeri tells nurses

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The nurses in the state should unite to fight the rampant exploitation prevailing in the sector, said Opposition deputy leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan.  Students’ organisations like the SFI should work for the betterment of nursing students, he said.Speaking after inaugurating the state-level convention of nursing students organised by the SFI, he said that several hospitals in the state were paying less than the minimum wages fixed by the government to nurses.“Though the government had fixed Rs 13,000 as the basic pay, several hospitals pay only around Rs 3,000. This is highly condemnable and the government agencies concerned should put an end to this,’’ he said.“The hospitals should end the practice of employing junior nursing staff under the bond system,’’ he said.SFI state president K V Sumesh presided over the function. CPM district secretary Kadakampally Surendran and SFI state secretary P Biju spoke at the function.  The convention witnessed discussions on various issues concerning nurses.