The protesting junior doctors demanding justice for the Rape-murder case of a Trainee Doctor at the RG Kar Medical College has called off their Total Cease Work on Friday, October 4, 2024. They have resumed to their work with an ultimatum to the government to meet their demands within the next 24 hours, else they would launch a hunger strike.

They would continue it till death. We are calling off our ‘total cease work‘. But we will continue our sit-in protest. We will give the state administration 24 hours to fulfill our demands. Else we will start a hunger strike till death, said a protesting doctor, Debashish Halder of Kolkata Medical College and Hospital.

On Tuesday, October 1, 2024, the doctors resumed the Total Cease Work, demanding better safety and security at the Medical faculties. This move came after the doctors resumed to their work after a period of 42-days of protests and on Supreme Courts direction.

The protest was carried out at College Street and ended in Esplanade area. Over thousands of doctors and people joined. They affirmed to continue the strike until the government take any decisive action. The doctors have also accused the police of assaulting one of their mates during the protest march earlier on Friday.

How it All Started?

Initially, the protests and outrage sparked after a 33-year-old doctor trainee was brutally raped and murdered on August 9 at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata

The doctors have now called off their strike after considering the patients’ well-being at the medical faculties. But they have threatened to the state government to go further on hunger strikes, if their demands were not fulfilled.

Considering the well-being of the patients, weve decided to call off the Total Cease Work, but we are not doing this due to the fear of the state government. If our demands are not met, we will be forced to go on a hunger strike, said another protesting doctor.

What were the Demands of Protesting Junior Doctors?

Meanwhile, the junior doctors have also raised their demands from the state government for the necessities to prevent the unforeseen incidents. These include the installation of CCTV Cameras at the Hospital premises. They also demanded 24-hours security for the healthcare workers and implementation of stricter protocols in the hospital.

The doctors have also raised their concerns regarding the culture of fear and intimidation within state-run hospitals. They alleged that the administration has not maintained a safe working environment for the doctors, especially those working late hours.

We joined this profession to serve people but how can we do so when we constantly live in fear? We dont feel safe in the very places where we are supposed to save lives, said another junior doctor.