Lakhs of ill -paid and over -worked nurses in private hospitals and nursing homes can at last hold their heads high.

The Central government has instructed the States and Union Territories to frame laws to ensure that nurses employed in private hospitals and nursing homes enjoy working conditions on a par with government nurses.The definitive move from the government marks are the major victory for private nurses who have waged prolonged legal battle in the Supreme Court as well as in the streets of India especially in Kerala for basic human and work rights from their employers.

In a communication of the Chief Secretaries of all the states and territories on September 20 ,the union minister asked them to formulate the legislation and report back by October 20 ,2016.The Center wants the new law to ensure that nurse working in private hospitals with over 200 beds should be given a salary on par with that drawn by state government nurses of corresponding grade.In private hospitals with more than hundred beds,nurses should be paid a salary not less than 10% in comparison of the salary of State government nurses of similar grade.

In case of private hospitals with number of beds ranging between 50-100,the salary of nurses should not be less than 25% of that drawn by government nurses of the same grade.The salary given to private nurses should not be less than rupees 20000 per month in any case even for nurses working with hospitals with less than 50 beds

The working hours , medical facilities,transportation, accommodation and other benefits given to private nurses would be on a par with government nurses.

The United Nurses Association is the largest organization of private nurses in India is moving to fight to implement the recommendation at the earliest.Be a part of the move,while signing the petition.