Kolkata Junior doctors start fast unto death, says State Govt failed to fulfil demands

Kolkata: Junior doctors in West Bengal have initiated a hunger strike, protesting the brutal rape and murder of the postgraduate trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College Hospital. The fast began on Saturday evening, following the state government’s failure to address their demands within a stipulated deadline.

With three days left before the Durga Puja festivities start, the doctors had on Friday begun a sit-in demonstration at the Dorina Crossing in Dharmatala in the heart of Kolkata, setting a 24-hour deadline for the state government to fulfil their demands.

According to the PTI report, a junior doctor said, "The state government has failed the deadline and hence we are starting the fast unto death, which will continue till our demands are fulfilled. To maintain transparency, we have installed CCTV cameras at the dais where our colleagues are holding the fast."

The six doctors who were sitting on the fast were identified as Snigdha Hazra, Tanaya Panja and Anustup Mukhopadhyay of Kolkata Medical College and Hospital, SSKM's Arnab Mukhopadhyay, Pulastha Acharya of NRS Medical College and Hospital, and Sayantani Ghosh Hazra of KPC Medical College.

The state would be held responsible if any doctor fell ill during the fast, the junior doctor said.

"We have the support of the people, and that is the reason we are not scared of any sort of hindrances by the administration. We will continue our hunger strike until our demands are met," he added, news agency PTI reported.

A large number of common people and a few celebrities were present at the protest site in the evening.

The junior doctors had on Friday night called off their 'total cease work', which had crippled healthcare services at state-run medical colleges and hospitals.

Earlier in the day, the medics alleged the police were not allowing them to set up the dais.

Kolkata Police had denied the junior doctors' request for permission for the sit-in, stating that the road witnesses heavy traffic flow.

The protesting doctors had also alleged that they were baton-charged by the police on Friday night.

Promising "necessary action", Kolkata Police in an e-mail asked them to identify the police personnel involved and lodge a complaint.

"With reference to the allegation of physical assault, the matter is being enquired. However, you are requested to direct the doctor/person who has allegedly been assaulted to lodge a formal complaint at the concerned Police Station, necessary action will be taken in accordance with the law," the mail said.

The protesters emphasised that securing justice for the deceased woman medic remains their foremost priority.

Among the other nine demands, they called for the immediate removal of Health Secretary NS Nigam, as well as accountability for the alleged administrative incompetence and corruption within the Health Department, adds PTI.

Other demands include the establishment of a centralised referral system for all hospitals and medical colleges in the state, the implementation of a bed vacancy monitoring system, and the formation of task forces to ensure essential provisions for CCTV, on-call rooms, and washrooms at their workplaces.

Furthermore, they are advocating increased police protection in hospitals, the recruitment of permanent women police personnel, and the swift filling of vacant positions for doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers.

The junior doctors began their strike in response to the tragic incident that occurred on August 9, when a fellow medic was raped and murdered. They temporarily halted their protests on September 21 after receiving assurances from the state government regarding their concerns.