West Bengal govt launches "Rater Sathi" for women safety amid outrage over RG Kar doctor rape, murder

Howrah (West Bengal) [India], August 17 : Amid outrage and demand for justice over the rape and murder of a woman trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, Alapan Bandyopadhyay, Chief Advisor to West Bengal Chief Minister on Saturday launched "Rater Sathi" flagship programme for the safety of women working night shifts in hospitals.
At a press conference, Bandyopadhyay described the "Rater Sathi" programme as a comprehensive, multi-departmental initiative aimed at enhancing the safety and welfare of women in night shift roles.
"Rater Sathi is a key program designed to ensure the safety of women who work night shifts in hospitals and similar places. It's an overall structure approach and a multi-departmental flagship programme to ensure that working women's welfare in these institutions gets full fulcrum and specific focus," he said.
Bandyopadhyay explained that under this programme special mobile phone app with alarm devices will be developed which shall be compulsorily downloaded by all working women and which will be connected to the local police stations/police control room, to ensure safety during night hours.
"Three safe zones will be established, with full CCTV coverage and monitoring. A special mobile app called "Rater Sathi," featuring alarm functions, will be developed. All working women will be required to download this app, which will be connected to local police stations and control rooms," he added.
"Under this program, "Rater Sathi" volunteers and private female security guards, with support from the police, will provide safety during the night," he added.
"Under this program, Women's working hours, including those of female doctors, should not normally exceed twelve hours at a stretch. Whenever possible, night shifts should be avoided for women," he added.
The rape and murder of the trainee doctor have sparked outrage across the nation, drawing reactions from people from all walks of life.
Earlier today, Junior doctors and medical students held protests at Mangalagiri AIIMS Hospital and Delhi's Lady Hardinge Medical College. West Bengal Congress workers also rallied against the incident, while ABVP workers protested against the TMC government of West Bengal.
In response, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has announced a nationwide withdrawal of services by doctors of modern medicine starting from 6 am on Saturday, August 17 to 6 am Sunday, August 18.
Indian Medical Association (IMA) National President Dr Asokan on Saturday said that the time is ripe for PM Narendra Modi's intervention into the rape and murder incident of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata adding that they will be writing to the Prime Minister.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has declared a 24-hour withdrawal of services by all the modern medicine doctors of the country, irrespective of the sector and place of work, in response to nationwide outrage over the rape and murder of a second-year trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College.
While emergencies and casualties will function, the IMA said that OPDs or elective surgeries will be suspended from 6 am on Saturday till 6 am on Sunday, August 18, 2024.
On August 14, a mob of between 5,000 and 7,000 people, including several individuals, invaded RG Kar Hospital, attacked protesting doctors and medical students, and attempted to ransack the premises, forcing security officials to disperse the crowd.
On August 16, Kolkata police said they had arrested 19 miscreants allegedly involved in the mob violence at the hospital premises.
On August 9, a postgraduate trainee doctor was found dead in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, triggering nationwide protests by doctors and medical professionals.