The ugly incident of rape and homicide of a trainee physician in a Kolkata hospital this month has renewed public fury and horror over the lack of authorities to halt continual violence in opposition to girls and ladies in India. It has additionally introduced pinprick reminders of long-held issues in regards to the security of healthcare professionals within the nation.
In an unique interview with News18 on Saturday, Karnataka’s minister for well being and household welfare Dinesh Gundu Rao addressed such issues and shared particulars of his authorities’s initiatives to allay these fears whereas additionally responding to hypothesis of chief minister Siddaramaiah probably stepping down within the close to future over an alleged land allotment rip-off. Edited excerpts:
In gentle of the heinous crime in Kolkata, Karnataka has arrange a particular process pressure. What have been the suggestions?
That incident has actually shaken all the nation, particularly the medical fraternity. The security of medical doctors, significantly girls medical professionals, has turn into some extent of concern and nice significance. The incident was ugly and horrific, prompting us to reassess every part that we have been doing.
We now have consulted numerous stakeholders and established a process pressure and committee to offer us with a report inside a month to enhance the infrastructure and use expertise to make sure security and safety. We’re searching for implementable programmes, with our paramount effort being to offer a secure setting for medical professionals. We’re additionally contemplating creating apps, panic buttons, and offering correct infrastructure, reminiscent of safe resting rooms for medical professionals. They need to really feel that their security is being taken care of. We now have additionally amended legal guidelines to reinforce the security of medical doctors.
Will there be additional amendments to the legal guidelines in view of the panel report?
No, however we will probably be severely taking a look at licensing and setting particular parameters. These in search of licences or renewing them might want to specify what they’re doing to make sure the security of ladies medical professionals. This may turn into a part of the mandate and will probably be included within the report.
Will there be secure zones for resting for medical professionals?
Sure measures will probably be made necessary earlier than the issuing of permissions and licences. Obligation rooms, CCTVs, grievance redressal programs, and stricter implementation of present legal guidelines will probably be required. When such incidents happen, we regularly give you solutions, however the true problem is to place them into observe and implement them successfully.
The difficulty in Kolkata on the RG Kar Hospital has now snowballed right into a full-blown political battle. Even Lok Sabha chief of opposition Rahul Gandhi criticised West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, and the difficulty has shifted in direction of changing into a Congress vs TMC battle. What’s your tackle this?
Sadly, in India, every part turns into politicised, however points like this should be dealt with with an excessive amount of sensitivity, and we must always not enable it to turn into one other political battle. I imagine West Bengal ought to have been extra delicate to the state of affairs. The BJP can be politicising this as a option to goal Mamata Banerjee’s authorities. In BJP-ruled states, related incidents are taking place, however they aren’t talking about them. Each authorities ought to act with sensitivity.
Did West Bengal mismanage the difficulty?
When the difficulty first emerged, they responded as if they have been being attacked, which was not the suitable response. They need to have been thoughtful and empathetic, making certain that legislation and order have been maintained. We should break free from the patriarchal mindset seen in states like UP and Bihar, the place political leaders act with out sensitivity. Mamata could have tried to do the correct factor, however the best way it got here throughout was completely different. We have to change societal attitudes, particularly regarding the abuse of ladies and kids. This illness inside society should be rooted out.
In Karnataka, is the federal government going to final? Will Siddaramaiah proceed as chief minister?
There is no such thing as a change within the chief minister. That is merely a conspiracy, and the chief minister has not executed something fallacious. We now have said this quite a few occasions. The very fact is that our celebration is stronger than ever earlier than. We all know this can be a conspiracy to harass our chief minister and our authorities, significantly relating to the pro-poor programmes we’ve delivered to the individuals. The BJP is making an attempt to create a disaster, however we’ve delivered, and so they wish to derail this progress. In reality, the Congress is extra united than ever, and we’re preventing this collectively.
Is the chief minister underneath stress, or is he changing into a stronger chief?
He’s not underneath stress. He has executed nothing fallacious and, in reality, he has turn into extra assertive. Incidents like this inspire him to show his capabilities, which can in the end profit the state and the Congress. This will probably be a greater authorities. Regardless of the BJP is making an attempt will in the end fail. It’s their MLAs who’re dealing with critical expenses. They’ve been investigated and expenses have been filed. We now have sought sanction from the governor to prosecute them. This may ultimately result in their downfall, because the governor can’t be selective. If he takes motion in opposition to Siddaramaiah, he should do the identical with HD Kumaraswamy and different BJP leaders when required. He should hearken to the cupboard’s suggestions.
Will this result in resignations (within the BJP)?
I imagine it ought to result in the resignation of Kumaraswamy. He’s the mines minister, and if the governor sanctions it, he will probably be prosecuted for a serious corruption scandal, which has been investigated and for which expenses have been filed. The ball is now of their courtroom, and there may be an excessive amount of proof in opposition to him.
Will there be a change in management?
There is no such thing as a such chance. There was no wrongdoing. You might interpret it in numerous methods, however CM Siddaramaiah was not in energy on the time. He said that when he was in energy, such allotments wouldn’t be made, and he didn’t misuse his workplace. This demonstrates his excessive ethical conduct. What extra are you able to anticipate from a political chief? The BJP could say something, but it surely displays his excessive ethical conduct.
