CWCSW also came down heavily on minister Shukla, who is also the ex-officio chairman of CTEVT, for disregarding its earlier instruction.[break] CWCSW, upon learning about CTEVT´s groundwork, had on Tuesday directed the apex body of technical education to not hastily take such an important decision. However, irrespective of CWCSW´s directive, CTEVT took the decision the following day.
“We did not receive any official letters from the parliamentary committee,” minister Shukla said defending CTEVT´s decision. “I absolutely respect parliament.” Sensing minister Shukla´s legal shrewdness in defending CTEVT´s decision, CWCSW decided to dispatch an official letter informing him of its decision.
Minister Shukla also informed CWCSW that CTEVT´s decision to allow nursing colleges without 50-beds hospitals to operate was based on a report submitted by a committee headed by Dr Mahendra Bishta.
CWCSW members, however, criticized minister Shukla for taking the decision based on the report as Dr Bishta was himself a controversial person. “How can minister Shukla rely on a report prepared by a man who himself has been dragged into controversy (for issuing health certificates to Korean job aspirants),” lawmaker Binod Pahadi said. He accused minister Shukla of being surrounded by mafias.
Another lawmaker Jaypuri Gharti argued that CTEVT´s decision if implemented would be “a crime against humanity”. Similarly, lawmaker Dr Shekhar Koirala said, “Most of us have sensed ulterior intention in it,” he said.
Minister Shukla said that CTEVT had to hastily take the decision keeping in view the students´ future. “Had we not taken the decision immediately, thousands of students would have been left in the lurch,” he said. However, lawmaker Gharti maintained that CWCSW´s decision is only aimed at not allowing new nursing colleges that do not have such affiliations.
“We are not for shutting down all nursing colleges which already have affiliation with CTEVT,” she said, adding, “We would rather emphasize on formulating a policy that would motivate them to meet required standards.”
Panel for new standards
Meanwhile, CWCSW has decided to form a committee to review the existing provision that requires new nursing colleges to either operate their own 50-beds hospitals or have affiliations with them. The committee will propose a new standard, if needed, no later than September 16. The committee comprises Giriraj Mani Pokharel, Dr Shekhar Koirala, Suprabha Ghimire, Mangal BK, DB Karki, Babina Moktan, Nawa Raj Koirala, Abul Kalam Aajad and Mina Pun.
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