Kerala bravely fought the Nipah virus outbreak, but not before 17 people succumbed to the deadly virus in May this year. One of them was Lini, a nurse who used to work at Perambra EMS Memorial Cooperative Hospital in Kozhikode district, who contracted the virus when she attended to one of the first Nipah victims.
As Kerala mourned the untimely death of the brave nurse who died doing her job, the state government offered her husband a job.
On Monday, a senior administrative officer of the state Health Department issued an order giving a government job to Lini's husband Sajeesh. He will now work as a lower division clerk in an office under the Kozhikode Medical Officer.
The District Medical Officer has been asked to apprise the Health Department of when Sajeesh takes up the job.
Although the official order was issued only on Monday, the state Health Minister KK Shylaja had announced the decision of the government at the end of May, after a cabinet meeting. Lini's husband Sajeesh used to work in Bahrain, while Lini and her children stayed back home in Kozhikode. However, after Lini's untimely death, Sajeesh was unable to go back to Bahrain.
The government had also declared a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each to both of Lini's children.
Lini's death had caused widespread grief across the country, especially after a handwritten note addressed to her husband was released to the media.
"I think I am almost on my way; I don't think I'll be able to meet you. Please look after our children. Take them with you to the Gulf; don't be all alone like our father, please," Lini had written, as she was battling for her life in the ICU.