Juinior doctors in West Bengal have begun an indefinite hunger strike to demand justice from the Mamata Banerjee-led government. They assert they will not relent until their humanitarian concerns are addressed. 

Dr. Sayantani, a representative of the West Bengal Junior Doctor’s Front, emphasized the urgency of their fight, saying, “This is not a fight against the public, but by and for the public.” She referenced the tragic case of Abhaya, a doctor who faced multiple threats before her murder, highlighting the need for better safety measures in hospitals.

Despite the ongoing hunger strike, Dr. Sayantani noted that many doctors returned to their duties during the Navratri festival, leaving only six to protest. “We waited for 58-59 days for a response from the state government, but to no avail,” she said.

The doctors previously called off a “total cease work” after issuing a 24-hour ultimatum to the government. Parichay Panda, another protesting doctor, stated, “Our demand is simple. The government has failed to enhance safety measures in hospitals, even admitting in court that only minimal steps have been taken.”

On August 9, a postgraduate trainee doctor was raped and murdered at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, prompting the Supreme Court to request a report from the National Task Force on safety issues for medical professionals. The court has been involved in addressing the need for improved safety protocols and a dignified working environment for healthcare workers.

Earlier this week, students and junior doctors at North Bengal Medical College and Hospital held a torchlight procession in solidarity, while doctors from private hospitals lit lamps in Kolkata as a mark of protest.