The junior doctors in Kolkata continued their hunger strike and entered the 324 hours of hunger strike on Saturday. The hunger strike is in solidarity with the West Bengal Junior Doctors Front. And has come after tragic events earlier this year.
The protest started after a fellow resident doctor was raped. And murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, on 9 August. The juniors had been demanding justice and an increase in security for health workers since then.
“It is because we gave enough time to the government,” said one of the protesting doctors, Janmayee Mandal, on the ongoing strike. “We had discussions with senior doctors also, and gave enough time to the government to act,” said Mandal. “But now, if the government doesn’t take the necessary steps, our hunger strike will continue. We need action and the government must stop negligence toward us. If they think that they can suppress our protest, then they are wrong.“
The IMA too has expressed solidarity. On 15 October, the IMA declared that the Junior Doctors Network across the country would go on a solidarity fast with the West Bengal Junior Doctors Front in solidarity from dawn to dusk across the country.
The junior doctors of West Bengal were protesting for several demands. That included providing more security to the medical professionals and health workers in hospitals. Now, this protest caught nationwide attention when five resident doctors from Kolkata were admitted to the ICU as their health deteriorated due to the protracted hunger strike.
IMA said in a statement that the strike depicts an emergency call for the government to meet the demands of the junior doctors. “The Government of West Bengal has been unwilling to fulfill their ten reasonable demands,” said the IMA in this statement. “The entire medical fraternity stands with the young resident doctors who risked their health for justice.”
Meanwhile, junior and well-wishers continued their demand for immediate intervention. To ensure safety and security in the workplace for health workers in the state.
The ongoing hunger strike has placed a spotlight on the broader issue of safety for medical professionals. And has raised conversations regarding the government’s role in protecting those who work ceaselessly to care for the public.
ANI