Junior doctors are protesting after the rape and murder at RGkar Hospital in Kolkata. The West Bengal government and CM Mamata have been trying to convince the doctors but two previous meetings between the doctors and CM Mamata could not take place. One time CM Mamata kept waiting but some demands for the meeting were not accepted and hence the doctors did not come for the meeting. The second time CM Mamata asked him to at least have a cup of tea but the doctors who were on strike also did not agree.
Now on Monday, doctors in Kolkata have come to meet the Chief Minister again. The junior doctor has replied to the email to the Chief Secretary at 3.53 pm today, expressing the demands of the meeting.
The email said that he was ready to attend the meeting as a law-abiding citizen, but suggested that such important talks should be held in some official and administrative venue as the matter concerned the government. In the reply on behalf of the junior doctor, it was also written that after the last proposed meeting, two major events had taken place, the arrest of Sandeep Ghosh in the Abhaya rape-murder case and the arrest of the Tala police station officer. Due to these events, transparency in the meeting became more important.
The doctors demanded that the entire meeting be videotaped. If that is not possible, they demanded that the video of the meeting along with the minutes and transcripts prepared by both parties and signed by all those present be handed over to the Joint Committee of Doctors (WBJDF) immediately. As the Chief Minister had said earlier, the request has been made. The doctors called on the authorities to consider their five-point demand and expressed hope for a positive response soon.
Five demands from doctors
1. The meeting should be recorded by the respective videographers of both parties.
If this is not possible…
2. The entire video of the meeting shall be immediately turned over to a representative of the WBJDF.
If this is not possible…
3. The minutes and complete transcripts shall be recorded and prepared by both parties (WBJDF will bring its own minutes and transcript preparer) and signed by all those present, as the CM has said before.
4. Transparency in meetings is necessary
5. The meeting place should be an official and administrative place.
West Bengal Young Doctors Front and State RDA hold press conference
The West Bengal Young Doctors Front (WBJDF) and the National Resident Doctors Association (RDA) held a press conference on Monday to address the national media. The WBJDF representatives demanded justice for the victimized doctors.
WBJDF representatives speaking at the press conference included:
Dr. Dipayan Biswas, IPGMER Kolkata
Dr. Anisha Basu, RG Kar Medical College
Dr. Sunanda Ghosh, IPGMER Kolkata
Dr. Bipesh Chakraborty, IPGMER Kolkata
Dr Bipesh Chakraborty said, “During the course of investigation, some names have come to light who are doctors and have political patronage. These people have unprecedented access to medical colleges across the state and are involved in corruption like rigging medical college exams. Such people need to be weeded out immediately.”
Representatives of Delhi RDA warned, “We will take to the streets if any action is taken against Kolkata doctors. The government should have a cordial meeting with the doctors instead of forcing them to end the protest.”
For all the important updates of CM Mamta’s meeting with doctors, see here
6:16 pm: Doctors arrive at CM’s residence to meet
5:55 pm: Junior doctors will come to CM’s residence along with two professional transcript writers to write minutes of the meeting. He has given this information in a new mail and informed the government.
4:48 pm: The West Bengal government has responded to the junior doctors in Kolkata regarding the meeting. As for paragraph (3) of the email sent by the doctors, the government, citing an earlier email, said that at the end of the meeting, the minutes would be signed by representatives of both parties and signed by both parties to ensure clarity and consensus of the discussion.
5:15 pm: Junior doctors go to CM residence
4:22 pm: Health Minister Chandima Bhattacharya arrives at the Prime Minister’s residence ahead of the meeting.
3:53pm: Junior doctors email government response to meeting.
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