Kerela seeks Centre's intervention on emigration clearance for nurses

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala today requested the Union Government to exempt from emigration clearance, nurses who have cleared job interviews before May 30.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy made the request in a letter to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

He also said that Swaraj had agreed to this demand when it was raised by State Minister K C Joseph during a recent meeting.

Welcoming the steps taken by the Centre to check frauds in the nursing recruitment sector, Chandy said Indian embassies in 18 countries where emigration clearance is mandatory should take necessary steps after discussions with the governments concerned and private sector employers to ensure effective implementation.

So far no steps had been taken in this direction by the embassies, except in Kuwait. This has resulted in a situation where Indians cannot go for jobs in 18 countries after May 30, he said.

"Indians will lose job opportunities in these countries if the Centre does not take prompt action, Chandy added.

Yesterday, the Protector of Emigrants, Kochi, L Adolfus, a key accused in the nursing recruitment scam, involving crores of Rupees, was arrested by CBI in that city for allegedly hatching a conspiracy with a nursing recruitment agency owner here to send them to Kuwait.