Special enforcement, toilet: Under pressure after rape and murder in Kolkata, Bengal lists security measures for women doctors
The security measures taken under the 'Retract Shashi-Helpers of Night' program include separate toilets for women, identification of safe areas with full CCTV coverage and more.
Amid the national furore over the brutal rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar MCH, the West Bengal government on Saturday launched a flagship program 'Bringing Shaathi- Helpers of the Night' to and women health professionals. The initiative aims to ensure safe working conditions for women working night shifts in government hospitals, medical colleges and hostels.
The safety measures taken in the "Pull the Checker - Night Helpers" program include:
Designated bathrooms with female toilets. "Rattract Shaathi" where female volunteers will be on duty during the night. Identification of safe areas with full CCTV coverage and continuous monitoring. A separate mobile application will be developed with the alarm equipment. It will be compulsorily downloaded by all working women and linked to local police stations/police control rooms. Security checks and alcohol tests will be conducted in medical colleges and hospitals, super-specialty hospitals and district hospitals. All organizations will be required to create a "Visakha Committee" on sexual harassment of women in the workplace, if not already done. Organizations will be encouraged to design schedules so that women work in pairs or teams and are aware of each other's movements during the night hours. Security guards - men and women - will be stationed in hospitals. Identity cards will be mandatory at all times for staff in hospitals and medical colleges. Night work will be avoided for female health professionals and shifts will be limited to 12 hours at a time. Private institutions will also be encouraged to implement the 'Attract Shaathi' protocol. Earlier in the day, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held a meeting with Chief Secretary, Home Minister, DG CP Kolkata and other senior officials, after which the program began.
Experts called the move a "damage control" effort by the Bengal government following the reaction to the RG Kar incident. The TMC government in the state faced widespread criticism following the incident and the vandalism of the hospital.
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August 18, 2024 at 07:25AM
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