Thursday, 19 September 2024
Thursday, 19 September 2024
Like many at the junior doctors’ sit-in, Sumit Singh Shekhawat said he has been juggling his roles as a protester and a healer for the past month.
Shekhawat, a medical intern from the Midnapore Medical College and Hospital, has been travelling between Midnapore and Calcutta every two-three days along with his batchmates and seniors.
“Hundreds of us commute alternatively so that while a section of students and teachers stand strong in front of Swasthya Bhavan, the others are in Midnapore to treat patients and hold classes, and also to get some rest,” Shekhawat told The Telegraph Online.
What sets him apart in the crowd of protesters is that he has chosen to walk barefoot in all the marches – first in Midnapore and then in Calcutta – since August 19.
Despite the pouring rain, the air around Swasthya Bhavan remains fully charged, with the doctors protesting the rape and murder of their colleague at RG Kar showing no signs of fatigue.
Dr Anik Das, one of the main faces from the Midnapore protest forum, pointed out that small acts by individuals don’t make it to the headlines but they have been an invisible support to this movement.
“Sumit was drenched for hours but kept on supporting the makeshift tent. He didn’t care that he would catch a fever. He is just focused on one thing — justice for Tilottoma,” Das said.
Shekhawat said he took the decision to go barefoot on the day of Rakhi.
“I didn’t have any particular reason except that this was the only way I could express my anguish over how justice for our sister had been intentionally delayed,” he said. “This cannot be just the work of one man.”
Poser on ‘crumbling healthcare’ claims
The Bengal government has said that the junior doctors’ cease-work has jeopardised health care in the entire state and at least 29 people have died as a result.
“I can’t comment on those deaths without knowing more details,” Shekhawat said when asked about the government’s assertions.
“I can say patients visiting our hospital have lent their support to our movement as they know we are trying our best to serve them. They are also being offered free medicines as senior doctors, alumni members and members of the resident doctors’ association have opened a common fund to source medicines."
“Cease-work means seeing no patients,” Shekhawat added. “We didn’t do a proper cease-work as Emergency wards were open 24x7. The nominal charge of Rs 2 while booking a consultation has also been lifted in the process. The treatment cost now is essentially zero.”
Dr Anik Das said that Abhaya clinic and a parallel OPD at Midnapore hospital has continued to offer treatment to new patients regularly, in-person as well as over the phone. An ‘Abhaya Pathshala’ has also been set up so that the medical education of their juniors doesn’t become a casualty of the protests, he said.
