There is outrage across the country after the rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital. Doctors are protesting and raising questions about the safety of female employees. Meanwhile, the officials of Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH) in Assam have issued an order for female doctors and employees, which is being criticized a lot.
The advisory issued by the hospital states that female doctors and other staff should avoid roaming around alone at night. According to the Principal-cum-Chief Superintendent of this institute, Dr. Bhaskar Gupta, this decision has been taken keeping in mind the recent incident at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata. According to the guidelines, female doctors and other staff have been advised not to go to deserted, dimly lit and less populated areas at night.
Dr. Gupta wrote, ‘Female doctors, students and staff should avoid situations where they are alone as much as possible. Avoid going out of the hostel or lodging room at night. Be sure to inform the concerned authorities before going out.’ According to the advisory, it has been advised to avoid going out of the campus late at night or at unusual times. Students have been asked to follow the hostel rules and administrative rules made by the institute. It has been advised to stay away from strangers or suspicious people.
According to the advisory, employees have been asked to remain mentally calm, alert and aware of their surroundings while on duty. It has also been said that there is a need to be more careful while talking to anyone. Officials said that any issue or complaint should be immediately reported to the Chairman/Members of the Gender Harassment Committee, Discipline Committee, Internal Complaints Committee, Anti-Ragging Committee.
This decision of the hospital is being criticized. People say that it is the responsibility of the hospital administration to provide security to women in the hospital. Whereas this decision is keeping a watch on the female employees.
In fact, on August 9, the body of a female resident doctor was found in the seminar hall of RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata. A 31-year-old post graduate resident doctor posted on duty at the government RG Kar Medical College and Hospital was sexually assaulted and murdered on the night of August 8. Officials recovered the half-naked body of the second-year student in the seminar hall of the Chest Medicine Department, which had several injury marks on it. After this incident, doctors across the country are protesting. (Input- Dilip Kumar Singh)
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)