Early Times Report
srinagar, June 19: Throwing rules to the wind, authorities have been making backdoor appointments of various posts in violation of rules. In one such glaring example, the Health department has been appointing doctors holding only MBBS degrees as principals at nursing schools in Jammu region as well in Kashmir.
As per the rules of the Indian Nursing Council, only candidates with M.Sc Nursing with three years of teaching experience or B.Sc Nursing and five years of teaching experience are eligible for the post of principals.
For nursing tutors, only those candidates can be appointed, who have bachelor's degree in nursing/diploma in nursing education and administration/diploma in public health nursing with two years of clinical experience.
But the Health department recently issued an order where the department appointed nine doctors, all without post graduate degrees in nursing as incharge principals at various nursing schools.
Now an advertisement has also been issued making MBBS degree holders eligible for principal of nursing schools.
"Time and again, we have apprised the Health authorities about the issue. Despite assurances, it has not changed the criteria. The practice is being adopted just to favour the blue-eyed candidates. The Health department is brazenly violating the rules," said a candidate with M.Sc in Nursing.
"Can government appoint M.Sc Nursing as principal of a medical college or a medical Superintendent? If not, then how come MBBS doctors are appointed as principal of nursing schools despite shortage of doctors?" he asked.
"We can't bear this injustice. A doctor with 30 years of service, having no knowledge of nursing, is appointed as principal. He can't deliver. If this practice doesn't end, those having higher degrees in Nursing will have to choose some other field to earn their livelihood," said Javeed Ahmad, pursing PhD in Nursing.
However, Director Health Services Kashmir (DHSK) Kaneez Dolma said that guidelines are being followed while appointing the principals. "Those appointed as incharge principals have been selected from the department. We had to appoint them as we don't have post graduates in Nursing," she said. |
