The protesting junior doctors are scheduled to meet West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday at Nabanna, the state secretariat. Despite the government’s request, the doctors will attend the meeting without ending their hunger strike, which has been ongoing since October 5.
On Saturday, West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant and Home Secretary Nandini Chakravorty visited the junior doctors at Esplanade, where they are on hunger strike. CM Banerjee also reached out to them through a call on Pant’s phone, urging them to end their strike and join her for a meeting.
CM Banerjee said her government had acted on four of the initial five demands put forward by the doctors, who have been protesting since the heinous rape and murder of a trainee at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
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The doctors, however, are now protesting with a fresh list of 10 demands. These demands focus on ensuring the safety and security of doctors, eliminating corruption in medical institutions, implementing a centralised referral system, ensuring adequate recruitment, and holding college union elections, among other issues.
CM Banerjee requested three to four months to address them, explaining that implementing such structural changes would require time. However, her assurances did not satisfy the doctors as they decided to join Monday’s meeting while continuing their hunger strike and protests until all their demands are fulfilled.
The key points that are expected to be discussed in the meeting include the upgradation of hospital infrastructures. The government is likely to reiterate to the doctors that their demands for installing CCTVs, constructing and renovating duty and restrooms, and providing adequate lighting and drinking water facilities have been addressed.
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The government might also inform the protesters that their demands for a centralised referral system and a digital bed vacancy monitoring system are currently in the pilot stage and would be rolled out soon.
Additionally, they may be told that the recruitment for vacant positions in medical facilities and for permanent male and police personnel for security purposes is getting delayed “as the OBC reservation matter is subjudice in the Courts of Law”.
The doctors, on their part, might reiterate their demands for the removal of Narayan Swaroop Nigam, the Principal Secretary of the Health and Family Welfare Department of West Bengal. They will also demand a College Level Monitoring Committee, consisting of representatives from elected students’ unions and Resident Doctor Associations of each college.
The junior doctors will also advocate for the formation of an enquiry committee within the existing State Level Grievance Redressal Cell (GRC) to investigate members of the West Bengal Medical Council and the West Bengal Health Recruitment Board who have alleged corruption charges against them.