The Silchar Medical College and Hospital in Assam were forced to withdraw restrictions that it had imposed on the movements of female doctors, students and nurses citing the rape and murder of the 31-year old postgraduate trainee at Calcutta’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
In the order issued on August 12, two days after the Calcutta postgraduate trainees body was discovered inside the seminar hall of the chest department, both the principal-cum-chief superintendent and the superintendent of the Silchar Medical College and Hospital had asked the female doctors to stay conscious of their surroundings and to avoid drawing “unnecessary attention of unscrupulous elements.”
“While on duty you should be well composed emotionally, remain alert about the surroundings and should graciously interact with the public, so that you don’t attract unnecessary attention of unscrupulous people,” the order read.
The authorities of the Silchar Medical College and Hospital issued the advisory in the wake of the “recent tragic and reprehensible incident” at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
The advisory asked female doctors, students and staff to avoid “isolated, poorly lit and sparsely populated areas” as well as to “avoid situations where they are alone.”
In case they had to leave the hostel or lodging rooms at night they would have to take permission from the authorities. Those staying at hostels were advised against stepping out of their rooms at odd hours or late in the night.
“Be cautious and avoid associating with individuals who appear unknown or are suspicious in nature,” warned the order.
The junior doctors at the hospital gave a 48-hour ultimatum to the hospital authorities to withdraw the order.
“Whatever be the intent, the order is regressive and outrageous,” said Salman Choudhury, the president of the junior doctors’ association.
“We had demanded an immediate withdrawal of the order and apology,” Chowdhury said. “The order has been withdrawn but no official apology has been given. We have submitted a ten-point charter of demands to the authorities.”
The junior doctors at the Silchar Medical College and Hospital have demanded enhanced security measures, proper lighting between the road connecting the hostel to the hospital, round-the-clock male and female security guards, exclusive toilet for the doctors and the female staff near the central clinical laboratory and secured room to rest.
"The Silchar Medical College is a big hospital and caters to almost the entire Barak valley. There is a huge influx of patients and there are security concerns," said a third year student.
Some of the demands are similar to what the interns and junior doctors at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital have also been demanding. The slain postgraduate trainee at RG Kar Medical College had to retire for the night after 36 hours duty at a seminar hall, as the hospital did not have a resting room for the attending doctors.
