Khushi Maheshwari, Pune
After approximately 50 senior doctors turned in their resignation on Tuesday at RG kar hospital in solidarity with the protest by the junior medics. The protest have been ongoing ever since the gruesome rape and murder of their peer at the college. Talks were held between the juniors and the state government to come to a consensus and break out of their dead end, alas, the impasse ceased to end leading to a mass quitting by more doctors.
A meeting was scheduled by state chief secretary Manoj Pant on Wednesday evening. The invitees included about 10 junior medics. It was held to bridge differences between the state task force and the doctors at the Swasthya Bhavan. Scheduled to begin at 7:45 p.m. the meet finally began at quarter to ten. There were a total of 29 juniors at the delegation along with the state’s home secretary, director general of police (DGP) and members of the newly formed state level grievance redressal committee. Alas, the attempt to come to a common ground failed and agitation continues.
One of the agitators and junior doctors Debashish Halder informed that nothing beyond verbal promises was achieved in the meeting. He added that they requested the state officials to at least provide them with a time frame as to when the demands will be fulfilled and when the directives will be issued, but the government denied the request. Halder expressed his frustration and said that he and his colleagues have been on hunger strike for more than 100 hours and the government called a meeting to tell them to call it off. The officials have told them that they will orchestrate an assessment after Durga Pooja.
As per the doctors, there was no hindrance in hospital services and healthcare dispensation post the mass resignations. A senior doctor stated that the tendered resignations are to show support to the agitating juniors and in turn to make a statement directed at the state government.
At the same time, the junior medics who have been on a hunger strike since saturday and marched out rallies to various Durga Pooja Pandals to seek justice for their 31 year old colleague who was gruesomely raped and murdered on 9th of August at RG Kar Hospital are insisting on a quicker close on the probe into the case.