India’s medical professionals initiated a nationwide strike on Saturday, protesting the brutal 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, has led to the cessation of all non-essential services in hospitals across India for a full day. This action has impacted thousands of patients, as the protests, primarily led by women, have grown in intensity, focusing on the need for a safer working environment for medical staff.
The tragic incident involving the trainee doctor occurred on August 9, when authorities discovered the 31-year-old’s body in the seminar hall of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. A police volunteer associated with the hospital has been arrested, but the victim’s family claims it was a gang rape involving multiple perpetrators. An autopsy has confirmed evidence of sexual assault. In response to allegations of mishandling the investigation, federal agencies have taken over the case.
On Wednesday, large crowds of women demonstrated in streets nationwide, seeking justice for the victim during “Reclaim The Night” marches. Many protesters have called for the death penalty for the individuals responsible for the crime.
Medical workers across India are uniting in their calls for justice, demanding enhanced safety measures for doctors and medical staff in hospitals. Many healthcare professionals have limited their services to emergency cases, with additional strikes planned over the weekend.
Doctors have expressed concern about the dangers faced by medical personnel working in environments lacking adequate safety protocols. The Indian Medical Association has urged public support in their fight for justice, labeling the murder as a “crime of barbaric scale” resulting from insufficient safe spaces for women. They are also advocating for stronger legal protections against violence, proposing that assaults on on-duty medical staff be classified as non-bailable offenses.
Sexual violence against women is a pervasive issue in India. Numerous cases go unreported due to societal stigma surrounding such incidents and a general mistrust in law enforcement. Women’s rights activists highlight that the issue is especially pressing in rural regions, where victims often face community shaming and families worry about their social standing. Despite this, the number of reported rape cases continues to rise, with police recording 31,516 incidents in 2022, a 20 percent increase from the previous year, according to data from the National Crime Records Bureau.