IMA President Dr RV Asokan Visits Parents of Kolkata Incident Victim, Calls for Justice
A delegation from the Indian Medical Association (IMA), led by National President Dr RV Asokan, visited RG Kar Medical College and Hospital to meet with the parents of the victim of the Kolkata rape-murder incident that occurred on August 9. The incident has sparked widespread outrage and protests within and beyond the medical community.
Dr Asokan shared the heartbreaking experience of meeting the victim’s parents, who expressed their anguish over the lack of communication following the incident. He stated, “As a team, IMA went and met the parents of the victim, and we were shattered. They are totally helpless; they have a lot to say about how the incident was not informed to them for several hours. They were not allowed to meet the Principal.”
The IMA has called on the West Bengal Government to implement supportive measures for the grieving family. With the investigation now transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Dr Asokan emphasized the need for a fair and transparent inquiry. He added, “Our demand from the WB Govt is that there have to be supportive measures for the family. Now the investigation has been given to the CBI. They have to be fair and transparent and need to find the other culprits.”
Protests were held in Kolkata, Guwahati, Hyderabad, and Mumbai, with protestors holding placards that read, “Justice needs to be served,” “No duty without security,” and “Justice delayed is Justice denied.”
Dr Indra Shekhar Prasad, President of the Resident Doctors Association at AIIMS, commented, “What happened in Kolkata is not the only incident of its kind. Many such cases are happening daily in the country… Being a doctor is one of the noblest professions, we work in a temple-like atmosphere, and if doctors are not safe, how will the patients feel safe? Till the time we get concrete assurance of a long-term and strict law for the safety and security of doctors, health workers, and hospitals, we will continue with our strike.”
Dr Suvrankar Datta, Vice-President of the Resident Doctors Association at AIIMS, added, “Our primary demand is to work on the security lapse in the medical infrastructure of the country… What happened in Kolkata can happen to anyone. We demand the Central Government to bring a Central Protection Act on an immediate basis, or either give us a written assurance that a legal provision to ensure the safety of healthcare workers will be brought soon.”
Doubts Revealed
IMA -: IMA stands for Indian Medical Association. It is a group of doctors in India who work together to improve healthcare.
Dr RV Asokan -: Dr RV Asokan is the National President of the Indian Medical Association. He is a senior doctor who leads this group.
Kolkata Incident -: The Kolkata Incident refers to a sad event where a person was hurt very badly and died. It happened in the city of Kolkata.
RG Kar Medical College and Hospital -: This is a big hospital in Kolkata where people go to get treated when they are sick or hurt.
West Bengal Government -: The West Bengal Government is the group of people who run the state of West Bengal in India. They make rules and help people in the state.
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) -: The CBI is a special police force in India that investigates very serious crimes. They try to find out what really happened.
Protests -: Protests are when people gather together to show they are unhappy about something. They want to make a change or get attention to a problem.
