The ongoing doctors’ protest in West Bengal intensified on Wednesday, as the protesting medical professionals responded to the state government’s invitation for dialogue with a list of demands. The protest, which has lasted for 33 days, began after a trainee doctor was raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9.
The doctors have requested that the discussion be held in the presence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and demanded a 30-member delegation to represent them. They also asked for the meeting to be telecast live for the sake of transparency. Their response came after West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant invited the doctors for talks at the state secretariat, Nabanna, urging them to limit their delegation to 12-15 members.
Key Demands from the Doctors:
- Accountability for the Rape and Murder: The doctors demand that all individuals responsible for the trainee doctor’s death, as well as anyone involved in the destruction of evidence, be held accountable and punished.
- Action Against Former Principal: They are calling for strict disciplinary measures against former RG Kar Medical College Principal Sandip Ghosh.
- Resignations of Key Officials: The doctors have demanded the resignation of Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal and Health Secretary Narayan Swaroop Nigam, among others.
- Enhanced Security: Ensuring better security for healthcare workers in government hospitals.
- End to ‘Threat Culture’: They emphasized the need to eliminate the prevailing ‘threat culture’ in government healthcare institutions.
The protestors previously rejected an invitation for talks on Tuesday, as it came from Health Secretary Narayan Swaroop Nigam, whose resignation they are seeking. In their latest response, the doctors reiterated that they will only meet with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and that their five-point demands must be the focus of the discussion.
Government’s Response
In his letter to the doctors, Chief Secretary Manoj Pant expressed concern over the impact of the protests on patients and their families. He reminded the doctors that they had not complied with the Supreme Court’s directive to resume work by 5 pm on Tuesday. The court had previously indicated that if the doctors failed to return to duty, the government would be allowed to take action against them.
Pant acknowledged the doctors’ openness to dialogue and urged them to return to work. He invited them once again to a meeting at 6 pm on September 11 at Nabanna, hoping for a “fruitful dialogue.”
Supreme Court Directive
The Supreme Court had ordered the junior doctors to resume their duties by 5 pm on September 10, warning of possible legal action if they failed to comply. Despite the court’s directive, the doctors continued their strike, which has now stretched over a month. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has expressed her preference for resolving the issue through talks rather than punitive measures. The case related to the investigation of the trainee doctor’s rape and murder has since been transferred to the CBI.
The ongoing strike has severely impacted healthcare services in West Bengal, with patients across the state facing difficulties in accessing medical care. The outcome of the proposed dialogue remains crucial for both the doctors and the state government, as they seek a resolution to the impasse.
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