THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has once again accused the central government of neglecting Kerala. He pointed out that while 157 nursing colleges have been approved, none of them are in Kerala.

He further added, "We're not overly disappointed by this. Kerala is a state that doesn't even have an AIIMS. We have been requesting the Centre for an AIIMS every year. If we look at the criteria for AIIMS, no one can say we are unqualified. What can we do other than wait?" said the Chief Minister during the inauguration of the Sarada Nursing College in Nettayam.

The Chief Minister also expressed that nurses are seen as symbols of love, compassion, and mercy. "Nurses were the ones who risked their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic and worked selflessly. We also witnessed such efforts during the Nipah virus outbreak, and Sister Lini is an example of this," he added.

He praised the world-class service provided by nurses in Kerala. The CM said that the state government has made significant interventions in nursing recruitment, including the reservation of nursing seats for transgender individuals.