Srinagar:The Indian Nursing Council (INC) has formally withdrawn recognition of 13 nursing institutes in Jammu and Kashmir, raising grave concerns over the future of hundreds of students who pursued professional courses at these institutions. The derecognition, issued under Section 14 of the INC Act 1947, has stripped the degrees of pan-India validity, effectively blocking nursing graduates from the Union Territory from seeking jobs outside J&K.
In a notification circulated earlier this month, the INC said the decision followed repeated reminders and communications to the J&K administration which went unanswered. The apex nursing body cited indiscipline, irregularities, and non-compliance with statutory rules and regulations as the primary grounds for its decision.
“Despite repeated reminders, the authorities in Jammu and Kashmir failed to address the violations. Under these circumstances, the Council was left with no option but to withdraw recognition,” the notification reads.
The withdrawal means that while the degrees remain valid within Jammu and Kashmir, they will not be accepted by nursing councils and institutions elsewhere in India. This has sparked widespread anxiety among students who were banking on employment opportunities in other states and abroad.
Scores of students have staged protests in different parts of the Valley and Jammu region, demanding urgent intervention from the government. “We have invested years of hard work and money in our studies, only to find our careers jeopardised. The silence of the government is unacceptable,” a protesting nursing student in Srinagar told the news agency Kashmir News Trust.
Parents of affected students also joined the demonstrations, warning that the government’s lack of response could push young professionals into despair. “This is not just about degrees; it is about livelihoods. The inaction of authorities is crushing the dreams of our children,” said a parent from Baramulla.
It has now been more than three weeks since the INC’s notification was made public, yet there has been no official statement from the Jammu and Kashmir government. The prolonged silence has only deepened the frustration among students and their families.
Derecognition has wider implications for the healthcare sector in the Union Territory, as it casts a shadow on the quality of nursing education being imparted. Health experts warn that unless corrective measures are taken swiftly, it could erode confidence in the credibility of J&K’s nursing institutions.
Nursing students have urged the government to immediately engage with the INC and address the concerns flagged in the derecognition order. “The government must act decisively to restore recognition by ensuring compliance with the standards laid down by the Council. This is not merely a procedural issue but one that directly impacts the healthcare system and the professional future of our youth,” the students said. [KNT]
