Kolkata: Junior doctors at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, who have been on strike for over a month demanding justice for their colleague who was raped and murdered, held a critical meeting on Tuesday evening to discuss the future of their ‘cease work’ action.
The meeting, which began around 6:30 pm, was organized by the governing body of the protesting doctors to decide whether to continue the strike. According to one of the protesting medics, the discussion centered on recent actions taken by the state government that addressed some of their major demands.
“We are deliberating on whether to continue with our ‘cease work’ as some of our demands have been met by the state government,” said the doctor.
Government Concessions
On Monday night, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced the removal of several top officials, including the Kolkata police commissioner, the director of health services, and the director of medical education. This move was seen as a major concession to the protesting junior doctors, who had been calling for accountability and action following the brutal attack on their colleague on August 9.
The Chief Minister’s announcement came after extensive negotiations with representatives of the agitating doctors. The discussions were perceived as a potential breakthrough in the standoff, which had led to significant disruptions in healthcare services across the state.
Ongoing Demands and Strike Impact
Despite the government’s concessions, the doctors are still considering whether to continue their strike until all their demands are fully met. The ongoing protest has caused considerable disruption in healthcare services, with junior doctors refusing to fulfill their duties across various hospitals.
The outcome of Tuesday’s meeting will determine the next steps in the protest, as the medics continue to push for justice and enhanced security measures for healthcare workers.