United we stand, say protesting junior docs from different camps after 6 weeks
Times of India | 18 September 2024
Kolkata: They were from different medical colleges. They had diverse backgrounds. And also contrasting political ideologies. But faced with adversity, they set aside their differences, came together and stood united in a movement that sought to clean up the administrative ills plaguing the medical colleges in the state. Some 40 days on, the camaraderie continues and they vowed to put up a united front and rebuff any divisive force till they get what they had initially set out to achieve: justice for their raped and murdered colleague.
The ceasework had begun on Aug 9 from RG Kar Medical College & Hospital after the 31-year-old female PGT doctor was found brutalised.While medical colleges in Kolkata started the protest by that night itself, it snowballed the next morning as all other medical colleges in the state and beyond joined in.
The protest platform shifted from medical colleges to Lalbazar and then on Sept 10 to Swastha Bhavan. This dharna site has now emerged as the melting pot for junior doctors and students from all medical colleges with the general public walking in to express their solidarity and support.
“We were united when we were protesting from our own campuses. The unity is even stronger after the protest site shifted here as we all got together. Of course there are differences of opinions but our common goal is to seek justice for our colleague and cleanse the health department. And we are focused on it,” said a house staff from Calcutta National Medical College.
On Tuesday, they sat together at the protest in a camp, glued to their cell phones during the live-streaming of the Supreme Court hearing. All of them were firm that they would not cease their protest until their five-point demands were met, though the final call was to be taken at the general body meeting.
The place came alive as the day progressed with more junior doctors pouring in from different medical colleges. They were also joined by people from different localities.“This movement is no longer confined to junior doctors. This is now a mass movement. The kind of people dropping in to support us is one thing that keeps us going,” said another junior doctor from IPGMER.
Sloganeering, making graffiti in between snatching minutes for a cup of tea or meal, has become a part of their bonding. Some have even brought in instruments like drums, guitars and conch shells that are being used as rhythms during sloganeering.
“Our next course of action would be decided at the GB meeting. We are happy that the SC has supported our demands and we will be happier if the promises made to us by CM Mamata Banerjee are fulfilled,” said Aniket Mahata of West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Forum.