Medical education department orders them to wear white frocks or saris from February 15 after many ignored the government resolution passed last year
Medical education department orders them to wear white frocks or saris from February 15 after many ignored the government resolution passed last year
White is right, according to the state government.
And now the medical education department has ordered all nurses in the state to wear the conventional white uniforms or white saris, with caps and belts, to work. Disregard in any form would attract disciplinary action. 
Outcry over outfit: While the Maharashtra Nurses Federation is opposing
the government move, the Sarkari Paricharika Pragati Sangathan has
voiced its support. Representation Pic
Upset that very few complied with the government resolution (GR) passed in December on the issue, the department has given nurses the deadline of February 15, from when they have to adhere to the dress code.
The Maharashtra Nurses Federation (MNF), who insist on wearing pink salwar kameezes accompanied by white aprons, are still adamant on resisting the change ('Nurses cannot agree on what to wear to work', January 9, 2012) and have decided to move court again. Earlier also the two nurses' unions -- MNF and Sarkari Paricharika Pragati Sangathan (SPPS) -- had approached court regarding the issue of uniforms, when in the verdict the judges had asked the government to decide on the matter. About 700 nurses work in government hospitals -- GT, St George, Cama & Albless and JJ -- all dressed in pink.
Colour correction
"We have decided to file a petition in the High Court regarding the issue. We want to represent our demand again for a decent nursing uniform and not a dress, which reeks of the British era. Other states too have various uniforms for nurses like salwar kameez. We had a meeting in Pune and we have decided to fight over the dress code," said Kamal Waikule, general secretary of MNF.
Meanwhile, Pramila Thule of SPPS, which hasu00a0 vowed to wear the white uniform, said, "The patients relate to the uniform and consequently to us. Many nurses have changed to the original uniform. We have been told that those who don't change till February 15, will face strict disciplinary action."
"A few of our nurses have changed to the white frock as they are being pressurised and threatened with transfer," Waikule added.u00a0
Dr T P Lahane, dean of JJ hospital, said, "We have asked the nurses to switch to the uniform by February 15. If they fail to comply, we will have to take action as per the GR."
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