In a continued effort to address the grievances surrounding the tragic rape and murder of a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, junior doctors in West Bengal are set to meet with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday. Despite this scheduled meeting, the protesting doctors have announced that their hunger strike will persist until the outcome of the discussions, emphasizing that their future course of action will hinge on the meeting’s results.
Demands and Conditions for Dialogue
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made a public appeal on Saturday, urging the junior doctors to call off their fast-unto-death, stating that most of their demands have been met. However, the critical issue of removing Health Secretary N.S. Nigam remains unresolved. In a bid to facilitate dialogue, Chief Secretary Manoj Pant extended an invitation for a 45-minute discussion with Banerjee at the state secretariat, conditional upon the doctors withdrawing their hunger strike.
Despite this invitation, the junior doctors have remained steadfast in their decision to continue the hunger strike until the meeting takes place, highlighting their insistence on the removal of Nigam as a prerequisite for a resolution.
Health Concerns Among Protesting Doctors
Debasish Halder, a representative of the agitating doctors, expressed grave concerns regarding the health of those participating in the hunger strike. He noted that the doctors refusing to consume food will not attend the upcoming meeting. Halder emphasized that the junior doctors have previously participated in meetings called by the state government, often with little notice, without achieving satisfactory resolutions.
Mamata Banerjee’s Response and Previous Actions
During a phone call with the doctors on Saturday, Chief Minister Banerjee acknowledged the doctors’ right to protest but urged them to reconsider the hunger strike, citing its impact on healthcare services. “Everybody has the right to protest, but it shouldn’t affect healthcare services. I would request you all to withdraw your fast,” she stated.
Banerjee also addressed the demand for Nigam’s removal, arguing that such an action is impractical. She highlighted previous administrative changes, noting, “It is not possible to remove everyone in a department at once; we have already removed the DHS (Director of Health Services) and DME (Director of Medical Education). Please rise above politics and rejoin work.”
The Triggering Incident
The protests were ignited by the heinous incident on August 9, when a junior doctor was raped and murdered within the premises of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. This tragic event has led to widespread outrage within the medical community, prompting demands for improved safety measures and working conditions for healthcare professionals.
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