Suprovat Sydney report: August 17, 2024: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has launched a 24-hour nationwide strike, beginning at 6 am, in response to the rape and murder of a female doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The strike will continue until 6 am on August 18. In response to this crisis, the Union Health Ministry has announced the formation of a committee to recommend measures for ensuring the safety of healthcare professionals across India.

The strike involves a 24-hour suspension of non-emergency health services, starting at 6 am today and continuing until 6 am tomorrow. Routine OPDs and elective surgeries will be halted, impacting all sectors where modern medicine doctors operate, according to the IMA. Essential services and emergency care will remain available. IMA National President Dr. Asokan described the strike as a “movement for safety,” highlighting the strong nationwide support from doctors united against this injustice. The IMA plans to petition the Prime Minister, urging the government to address this critical issue concerning women’s safety.

A CBI team has taken over the investigation into the case, following its transfer from Kolkata Police by the Calcutta High Court on August 13. Preliminary findings reveal that Sanjay Roy’s wife had previously filed a complaint at Khalighat police station, alleging domestic assault by Roy. At a rally on Friday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused certain groups of spreading fake news to obscure the truth, claiming that the CPI (M) and BJP vandalized RG Kar Hospital to destroy evidence. She called for the exposure of these alleged lies and the nexus between the Left and BJP, while leading a march demanding the death penalty for the main accused.

India’s Supreme Court has announced it will oversee all cases of violence against women arising from the sectarian clashes in Manipur over the past three months, starting from May. The recent crime at the Kolkata hospital has highlighted the severe security risks confronting medical staff at many state-run health facilities across India.

In 2016, reported rape cases peaked at nearly 39,000. By 2018, a government report revealed that a rape was reported every 15 minutes nationwide. Rape remains the fourth most common crime against women in India. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reported 31,677 rape cases in 2021 and average of 86 cases daily up from 28,046 in 2020 and 32,033 in 2019. Of these 2021 cases, 28,147 (about 89%) were committed by individuals known to the victim. India continues to struggle with high rape rates and low conviction rates.

According to the Thomson Reuters Foundation survey, India is considered the most dangerous country for women. The survey highlights the shift from discussing gender equality to focusing on women’s safety and the pervasive threat they face. Despite coping mechanisms, many Indian women do not feel safe in public spaces, workplaces, markets, or even at home.

Indian women live in a state of constant vigilance, akin to a nation under terrorist threat. Satish, a 52-year-old banker, noted, “There’s no fixed time for rape: always be alert.” A democracy cannot truly be democratic when half its population lives in fear. The Modi government has been criticized for its inadequate response to this crisis.

To address these issues, India and the global community must prioritize women’s safety and freedom as central to democracy and development, and focus on cultural change. Many believe the current Modi administration has failed to effectively tackle domestic violence and other safety concerns, calling for more decisive action to protect women across the country.