We are following SC directives for removal of certain provisions in Rattirer Sathi scheme:’’ Mamata

Also announces recruitment of 12,000 police personnel

EOI, KOLKATA, SEPT 26, 2024 : Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said that her government, in pursuance of directives from the Supreme Court, has removed certain provisions of the Rattirer Sathi (Friends of the Night) scheme, which was recently announced by the state government to enhance security in state-run hospitals.

"We are working on the implementation of Ratri Sathi, except for the parts to which the Supreme Court raised objections," the Chief Minister said. She made this announcement after a meeting with the principals of all medical colleges and senior officials of the state government at Nabanna.

During a hearing in the Supreme Court on September 17, a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice D. Y. Chandrachud directed the state government to do away with provisions of the initiative that restricted women doctors to 12-hour shifts, excluding them from night duty at hospitals. The Court also questioned the state's initiative of deploying contractual staff for the Ratri Sathi scheme, pointing out that the accused in the rape and murder of a doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital was a contractual worker.

The Kolkata Police has since arrested Sanjay Roy, a civic police volunteer, for the rape and murder of the doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital.

The Chief Minister also announced the appointment of about 12,000 personnel in the state police force. She said that the newly appointed police personnel will undergo training while engaging in duty at the same time. "We do not have enough staff. Just like junior doctors who treat patients and study simultaneously, the police will be doing the same," the Chief Minister said.

Additionally, the Chief Minister mentioned that she has directed principals of medical colleges and hospitals to spend the Rs. 100 crore allocated by the state government for upgrading facilities in state-run hospitals. She also noted that former Director General of State Police, Surajit Kar Purkayastha, is overseeing security audits of all medical colleges in the state.

Meanwhile, five days after returning to work, the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front (WBJDF) has written to West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, alleging that no action has been taken, nor has any order been passed regarding some of their important demands that were previously agreed upon.

"We now find that while some of the deliberations and demands we put forward have been met, many crucial demands remain unaddressed. We urge the State Government to act quickly on these demands and issue special directives to the appropriate authorities, as these demands were also verbally agreed upon," the WBJDF stated in an email sent on Wednesday.

The doctors highlighted that their demands, including the formation of a central inquiry committee for disciplinary proceedings against alleged perpetrators involved in the threat culture in all medical colleges, and college-level inquiry committees have not been looked into.