Delhi hospital official apologizes to staff over 'no Malayalam' circular
What's the story
The nursing superintendent of Delhi's GB Pant Hospital has apologized for issuing a controversial circular that barred nursing staff from speaking in Malayalam on duty, saying he had "no intention to disrespect any Indian language, region, or religion." The hospital had withdrawn the circular, which asked the nursing staff to converse only in Hindi and English, on Sunday.
Circular
The circular was issued in a positive sense: Nursing superintendent
The hospital said that the circular was issued without any instruction or knowledge of the hospital administration and the Delhi government. In a letter to the medical director of the hospital on Monday, the nursing superintendent explained the reasons behind issuing the circular and said it was issued in "a positive sense and there was no bad intention against Malayalam-speaking staff."
Quote
Acted on the basis of complaints received: Official
"In fact, the circular was misinterpreted and I didn't even get a chance to explain the same," he said. The official said he had acted on the basis of complaints received on May 31, June 1, and June 2.
Complaint
What prompted superintendent to issue such a circular?
"The gist of the complaint was that most of the staff communicates in regional language due to which other staff members, as well as attendants of the patients, feel helpless," the letter by the nursing superintendent read. "I was requested to sort out the matter. Complainant clearly mentioned the Malayalam language," the letter further read.
Patients
'Patients and attendants felt scared and confused'
"Earlier, too, patients and attendants had complained verbally to seniors about some staff members using their regional language," he said. "The patients would assume they had some serious health issues and that's why languages are changed to hide their condition. Hence, the circular was issued to avoid any confusion due to the language barrier," the nursing superintendent said.
Hospital
The superintendent apologized for causing any hurt
"Even then, if feelings of any staff members were hurt, I regret and offer an apology for the same," the nursing superintendent further said. On Monday, the Delhi Health Department had issued a memo to Govind Ballabh Pant Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education & Research (GIPMER) in connection with the controversial "no Malayalam" circular.
Information
Delhi Health Department had issued a memo to the hospital
A source said the health department had asked the hospital to "explain why such an order was issued." An official of the GB Pant Nurses' Association said there are around 850 nurses working at the hospital and of them, around 400 are Malayali.