Amid the furore over the brutal rape and murder of a trainee postgraduate doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar hospital, the West Bengal government on Saturday launched the “Rattirer Sathi” programme, aimed at ensuring the safety and security of women working night shifts.

The program includes several security measures, such as safe zones with full CCTV coverage, deployment of women volunteers at night, special mobile applications with alarms linked to police stations, and security checks with breathalyser tests at hospitals and medical colleges. Designated restrooms with toilets for women will be provided, along with drinking water facilities on every floor of hospitals.

Additionally, night police patrols will be conducted at medical colleges, hospitals, and women’s hostels. The government also mandated that identity cards must be visibly displayed by all faculty, staff, and security guards in all medical institutions. Security guards at hospitals and medical colleges will be supervised by the police. The programme further stipulates that shifts for women doctors should not exceed 12 hours.

This launch by the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal comes amid the tens of thousands of doctors and nursing staff from across the country holding a nationwide protest for 24 hours to express their anger over the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor at a government-run hospital in Kolkata last week.

Meanwhile, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday urging his intervention into the matter. The doctors’ body also appealed to PM Modi to implement the Healthcare Services Personnel and Clinical Establishments (Prohibition of Violence and Damage to Property) Bill, 2019, also known as the Central Protection Act.