India’s healthcare workers initiated a nationwide strike on Saturday to protest against the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at a government hospital in West Bengal. The strike, organized by the Indian Medical Association, the country’s largest doctors’ group, resulted in the suspension of all non-essential services in hospitals across India for 24 hours.
This work stoppage has impacted thousands of patients. Demonstrations, primarily led by women, have escalated in recent days, demanding a safer workplace for medical staff.
On August 9, the body of the 31-year-old trainee doctor was discovered in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. A volunteer with the police who was working at the hospital has been detained in connection with the incident, though the victim’s family claims that a gang was involved and that the assault was of a more severe nature. An autopsy has confirmed that she was sexually assaulted.
The case is now under investigation by federal authorities following allegations that state officials mishandled the inquiry. On Wednesday night, protests erupted nationwide as thousands of women took to the streets in “Reclaim The Night” marches, calling for justice for the victim, with some demanding the death penalty for the attackers.
Medical workers are advocating for justice and increased safety measures for doctors and paramedics in medical facilities. Many have limited their services to emergencies, with additional strikes planned over the weekend. Doctors emphasize that the incident underscores the precarious situation they face, working in environments lacking adequate safety measures.
The Indian Medical Association has sought public support, referring to the killing as a “crime of barbaric scale” resulting from the absence of safe spaces for women. Additionally, they are calling for stricter laws to protect medical personnel from violence, including making any assault on on-duty medics a non-bailable offense.
Sexual violence against women remains a pervasive issue in India. Many instances of such crimes go unreported due to societal stigma and a lack of trust in law enforcement. Activists highlight that the issue is particularly severe in rural regions, where community pressures can shame victims, causing families to fear damage to their reputation.
Despite these challenges, the reported instances of rape in India have risen, with police recording 31,516 cases in 2022, marking a 20 percent increase from the previous year, according to the National Crime Records Bureau.