Chief Adviser to Chief Minister Alapan Bandyopadhyay announced a slew of measures during a press meet in Kolkata, amid continuing protests by doctors and students across the state against the rape and murder of a woman doctor at RG Kar Hospital.
“After the tragic incident at RG Kar, the Bengal government has embarked on introspection, accountability and action. After long deliberations by the senior most officers in the government, it has been decided to implement — ‘Rattirer Sathi’ or helpers of the night — the West Bengal government’s flagship programme, meant for safety for women who work on night shift,” he said.
“ Rattirer Sathi or woman volunteers shall be on duty at night. Safe zones will be identified and created for women, with full CCTV monitoring. There should be separate designated rest areas with washrooms for women,” he said, adding that, “security guards in the government medical colleges and hospitals, district medical colleges and hospitals as well as hospitals should be a combination of male and female security guards. Security officers will be posted by police in all medical colleges & hospitals and district hospitals for overall security supervision.”
Addressing the security of the faculty, staff and students in colleges and hospitals, he said night police patrolling will be carried out at all medical colleges, hospitals and women’s hostels.
“All faculty, staff, students and security guards etc in medical colleges and hospitals, should always wear and carry their identity cards. Working hours of women including woman doctors should not exceed 12 hours at a time. Wherever possible, night duty may be avoided for women to the extent possible. We hope these measures are implemented at the earliest,” he added.
Apart from hospitals and medical colleges, hostels and other places engaging women during night shifts will also come under the ambit of a flagship programme, Bandyopadhyay said.
Bandyopadhyay mentioned that “breath analyser tests” will be carried out at medical colleges and hospitals in the city and districts.
“Security check and breathalyzer test will be carried at medical colleges and hospitals, super-speciality hospitals, district hospitals. All organisations will be requested to set up Visakha Committee on sexual harassment on women in workplaces, if not done. A programme on sensitisation of all government establishments and private organisations will also be conducted,” he said.
Additionally, the state government has decided to develop a mobile app with alarm devices, which can be downloaded by women and used for communication with the respective local police stations in case of any emergency. “A special mobile phone app with alarm devices will be developed, and it shall be compulsory for all working women to download it. The app will be connected to the local police stations/police control room. Helpline No. 100/112 should be extensively utilised during panic/ emergency situation,” he said.
Meanwhile, the ruling Trinamool Congress on Saturday took out protests across the state, demanding capital punishment for the culprits of the RG Kar Hospital rape and murder case.
Holding placards that read “Doshider shasti chai” (we demand punishment for the culprits), hundreds of party workers and supporters took out rallies in different parts of the state, including Serampore in Hooghly, Naihati and Belgharia in North 24 Parganas, Chinsurah in Hooghly and Purulia. “We also denounce the conspiracy by Ram-Baam (BJP and Left) to destabilise West Bengal and disrupt the prevailing peace by politicising a shocking incident of rape and murder,” TMC MP and former state minister Partha Bhowmik said at a rally in Naihati.
In Kolkata, senior minister and Kolkata Municipal Corporation Mayor Firhad Hakim led a rally in Kidderpore area.
Claiming that the state government has ensured the safety and security of women in the state with zero tolerance for any sexual assault, Mayor Hakim said, “The opposition is politicising a tragedy though the state has taken all steps to nab the culprits. We want the CBI to complete the probe and find out all those guilty at the earliest.”
On Friday Mamata Banerjee said, “We want the truth to come out, but some quarters are spreading lies to mislead people. Attempts are being made to hide the truth by circulating fake news on social media. We condemn these activities. We want the culprits to be punished.”
— With PTI inputs
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