Jaipur nurse’s suicide sparks protests; wife to get a contract job

The alleged suicide of a 25-year-old male contract nursing staff at a government hospital in Jaipur over the weekend after his service was terminated has led to widespread protests in Rajasthan. Nursing staff on Saturday (June 13, 2026) staged demonstrations and boycotted work in health facilities in several cities.

Although the state government agreed to provide contractual employment to the deceased’s widow in the medical college, the protesters demanded a compensation of ₹1 million and allotment of a house to the family. Deepak Kharwal, a resident of Lawan village in Dausa district, allegedly took his own life in a state of depression after losing his job.

Deepak worked in the intensive care unit at Mahila Chikitsalaya, attached to Sawai Man Singh Government Medical College, Jaipur. The state government has decided to eliminate about 6,500 contract nursing staff employed through private placement agencies in government hospitals.

The workers were initially recruited during the previous Congress regime in 2022, with the number increasing significantly over the years. The Bharatiya Janata Party government has now decided to fill the nursing posts through a recruitment process and appoint candidates on contract basis for five years.

The protesting nurses demanded that existing workers be regularized or recruited into the ongoing recruitment of 3,000 nursing posts. Tensions escalated during a demonstration at Sawai Man Singh Hospital on Friday (June 12, 2026) night when the nurses’ association alleged that the police resorted to lathicharge following a clash between protesters and security personnel.

Rashtriya Loktantrik Party chief and Nagaur MP Hanuman Beniwal, who joined the talks between government officials and the next of kin of the deceased, announced a financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh for the bereaved family from his side. Among the officials present during the meeting were Medical Education Commissioner BL Goyal and SMS Medical College Principal Deepak Maheshwari.

The incident also drew reactions from opposition leaders who accused the BJP government of not addressing the concerns of the contractual workers. Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot said Deepak’s death could have been prevented if the government had shown more sensitivity towards contract workers, while his former cabinet colleague Pratap Singh Khachariyawas demanded an impartial probe.

Deepak was among nearly 310 contract workers hired through agency agencies whose services were terminated. He is survived by his wife, who is two months pregnant, and their three-year-old son. According to Deepak’s family, he was the sole earning member of the household.

People in need or with suicidal tendencies can seek help and advice on any of the following numbers.

Published – 14 Jun 2026 01:20 IST