The Chhattisgarh government’s recruitment of nursing graduates for Home-Based Caregiver roles in Israel is under official scrutiny after Raj Bhavan ordered an inquiry into complaints about the job’s nature and risks. The probe follows allegations that professionally qualified nurses are being hired for domestic duties in a conflict zone.
Raj Bhavan inquiry into nurse recruitment
A representation by Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Medical Cell president Dr Rakesh Gupta prompted the Governor’s Secretariat to refer the matter to the Department of Public Health, Family Welfare and Medical Education. The department has directed the Commissioner of Medical Education to investigate and submit a report.
Opposition has also come from the Chhattisgarh Nursing Association and other nursing professionals, who argue the roles undermine their qualifications.
India-Israel labour agreement context
The recruitment is part of a bilateral labour mobility agreement, under which India aims to send 50,000 to one lakh workers to Israel over five years to fill shortages in construction, hospitality, and caregiving. The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship had asked states to identify candidates for 3,500 Home-Based Caregiver positions.
Chhattisgarh’s Nurses Registration Council issued a June 11 circular inviting applications from GNM and BSc Nursing graduates, offering salaries up to Rs 2 lakh per month, plus accommodation, meals, and medical insurance.
Dispute over job responsibilities
The controversy centers on the job description, which includes caregiving for the elderly or ill but also lists domestic tasks like meal preparation, cleaning, and laundry. Nursing associations argue these duties do not align with professional nursing roles.
Chhattisgarh Nursing Association General Secretary Amit Roy stated that nursing degrees are meant for clinical practice, not household chores. Others, including nursing professional Barkha Sahu, have raised concerns about sending healthcare workers to a conflict zone, seeking clarity on safety, insurance, and evacuation protocols.
The state health department has not issued an official response. The inquiry’s findings will determine whether the recruitment proceeds as planned or faces modifications.
