Bengal junior doctors justify strike: ‘Security is not just installing random number of CCTV cameras’

Doctors demand better security and hospital infrastructure, point to poor quality of medicines, vow rallies on Tuesday and Wednesday demanding justice for their colleague raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital

Nancy Jaiswal, TT, Calcutta, 01.10.24 : Junior doctors in Bengal’s government hospitals resumed their full cease-work from Tuesday. They had lifted their strike, which began after the rape and murder of the postgraduate trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, on September 21 after a 42-day protest. 

They have resumed their cease-work to push the state government to address their demands related to their safety and security, the doctors said.

Doctors in Calcutta march in a protest last week against the rape-murder at RG Kar (The Telegraph Online Sources)

“Today we will visit our principal ma’am’s office to have a discussion on this,” Rahul Hazra, a final-year MBBS student at the Midnapore Medical College, told The Telegraph Online. “No work till now has been started to address our demands related to safety and security. Restroom, washroom, all are on hold, no work has started till now. We will discuss all this today. 

“We will observe a 48-hour strike and see what action is being taken, post which it will be an indefinite strike,” he said. 

“We will also discuss the poor quality of medicines being supplied to our college which is too bad in quality to be supplied to any patient,” he added. 

Medical camp organised by junior doctors. (The Telegraph Online Sources)

The strike comes a day after the Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud told Indira Jaising, the counsel for Bengal’s agitating junior doctors, that they must resume all of their duties. 

The doctors feel that the government has not taken sufficient action to fulfil the promises made during discussions with chief minister Mamata Banerjee. 

“Today is the 52nd day of our protest and we are still being attacked," Aniket Mahato, one of the leaders of the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front, told PTI. 

Doctors in Calcutta march in a protest last week against the rape-murder at RG Kar (The Telegraph Online Sources)

The doctors, under the banner of the Front, have outlined five demands since the beginning of their agitation. These demands include improvements in hospital security and health infrastructure and an end to the culture of threats and politics within hospitals. 

“A lot of days have passed since our meeting with the CM, they have said that they did some work related to CCTV installations but it can be clearly observed that violence is taking place against the doctors, which the police are also not preventing. Despite everything we did our best to save the patients, but still we are constantly attacked by angry patient parties,” Dr Sk Mehebub Hossain, junior resident doctor, Calcutta Medical College & Hospital, told The Telegraph Online.

“Security is not just about installing some random number of CCTV cameras and all that,” said Hossain.  “It includes proper facilities with clarity because as long as patient parties are agitated due to poor facilities, this will go on.” 

Protests by students of Medical College Kolkata. (The Telegraph Online Sources)

On Monday, Calcutta high court allowed a rally by the Joint Platform of Doctors to proceed on Tuesday from 5pm to 8pm from College Square in north Kolkata to Rabindra Sadan in the south, via Central Avenue and Esplanade, despite concerns from the Kolkata Police. 

Although the police initially requested restrictions on the number of participants and a shorter route, the court did not enforce such limitations. Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj directed that security measures be taken under the supervision of the joint commissioner of police, with rally organisers providing volunteers to maintain order.

Replica of Abhaya at Medical College Kolkata. (The Telegraph Online Sources)

“Tomorrow [October 2] we are taking out a rally to tell people that in the midst of celebration we should not forget our departed Abhaya,” Hossain said. 

Wednesday’s rally is scheduled at 1pm. 

“The rally is being held on the auspicious occasion of Mahalaya,” said Rahul Hazra. “We wish to show Abhaya as a symbol for every woman. Devi Pokkho begins on Mahalaya. That's why we are seeking justice for her on this auspicious day.”

Mahalaya, which heralds the beginning of the Durga Puja season, will also see another version of the Reclaim the Night protest against the RG Kar incident, with thousands expected to march early morning.