HYDERABAD: The Telangana Nurses Association (TNA) has urged the state government not to deny admission to male candidates to government nursing colleges due to the lack of hostel facilities for boys.
In a representation to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Health Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha, the association urged the government to ensure eligible male candidates can secure admission to government colleges without facing hardship. It said students willing to attend as day scholars should not be denied admission merely because colleges do not have hostel accommodation for boys.
The TNA cited G.O.Ms.No.82 of the Health, Medical and Family Welfare Department, issued on March 18, 2005, which recorded the Indian Nursing Council’s clarification that there was no bar on admitting male candidates to General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) and BSc Nursing courses.
According to the association, Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences (KNRUHS) seeks government nursing colleges’ willingness to admit male candidates. However, some college principals reportedly do not express willingness, citing the absence of boys’ hostel facilities.
The association said the issue particularly affected students from poor and middle-class families who could not afford private nursing colleges. It estimated that if around 37 government nursing colleges admitted five male candidates each, 185 students could benefit in every batch. Across four batches, the number could reach around 740 students.
The TNA also said the continued restriction reinforced the perception that nursing was primarily a women’s profession, despite men pursuing nursing education and working in healthcare institutions in India and abroad.
“We are ready to come as day scholars and do not need hostel accommodation from the government. If we are eligible for BSc Nursing, we should be allowed to study in a government college. We can make our own arrangements for accommodation,” said a male nursing aspirant who did not wish to be named.
Another aspirant said, “The absence of a boys’ hostel is an infrastructure issue. It should not decide whether we can study nursing. We are prepared to travel to college every day, but we need the admission opportunity.”