The Balaraman Committee appointed by the Kerala Government to study the nursing sector has recommended a substantial salary hike for nurses in private hospitals and also to get rid of the bond system. The committee was appointed by the Government, when the nurses in private hospitals went on strike demanding better pay and working conditions. The Balaraman committee report, prepared after collecting direct evidence from the hospitals had recommended that the working hours be cut down to 8 hours. The committee had recommended a salary ranging between 12,000 rupees to 20,000 rupees in various grades for the nurses.