High-Level Review Meeting In Bengal Over Women's Safety In Hospitals
Kolkata, Oct 25 (IANS) – In the wake of increasing concerns over the safety and security of women in West Bengal's medical establishments, a high-level review meeting was urgently convened today at the state secretariat, Nabanna. The meeting, chaired by Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, included top officials from the State Health Department, principals and medical superintendents of all medical colleges, district magistrates, district police superintendents, commissioners of Kolkata Police, and Chief Medical Officers (Health).
The emergency meeting was prompted by a series of recent disturbing incidents, including the molestation of a minor within the SSKM Medical College and Hospital, the assault on a junior doctor at a state-run hospital in Uluberia, and an attack on a nursing staff member at a primary health center in Mohammad Bazar. These incidents, all occurring within the past week, have triggered widespread criticism of the state administration, with many claiming that the government has failed to learn from past tragedies, such as the rape and murder of a junior doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in August 2024.
The primary agenda of the meeting was to comprehensively review the existing security arrangements in state-run medical facilities, identify any shortcomings, and propose corrective measures. Discussions also explored the possibility of involving private medical establishments in implementing standardized security procedures. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has directed the department to review and strengthen the existing security arrangements in hospitals.
The Association of Health Service Doctors, a leading doctors' body in West Bengal, has appealed to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who also oversees the Health and Family Welfare Department, to establish a dedicated "hospital security force" similar to the Railway Protection Force (RPF). This force would have jurisdiction over both state-run and private medical facilities.
In response to the outcry following the rape and murder of a female doctor at RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata in August 2024, the West Bengal government has taken several steps to ensure the safety of women in workplaces, especially hospitals. These measures include the creation of CCTV-monitored "safe zones" and designated retiring rooms in hospitals and medical colleges. The government also launched "Rattirer Shaathi – Helpers of the Night," a flagship program to provide safety for women working in night shifts. This program includes the development of a mobile app with alarm devices that connect to local police stations, deployment of women volunteers, and the establishment of safe zones with CCTV surveillance.
Other initiatives include encouraging organizations to schedule women to work in pairs or teams, implementing night police patrolling in hospitals and women's hostels, ensuring all faculty and security guards display ID cards, and conducting security checks and breathalyzer tests. The government has also been working to fill vacant positions for doctors and nurses and has deployed additional police and security personnel, including female officers, in healthcare facilities. Furthermore, a State-Level Grievance Redressal Committee and a Security Audit Committee have been established to address security concerns and assess existing measures.
While these measures represent significant progress, challenges remain. A key concern is ensuring the effective implementation and monitoring of these initiatives across all medical facilities, including those in rural and remote areas. The state government has also been advised to focus on optimizing existing resources to improve law and order, rather than imposing restrictions, such as avoiding night shifts for women.
