In response to the horrifying rape and murder of a junior doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College & Hospital, the West Bengal government has announced a major overhaul of security measures at state-run medical institutions.
The initiative will see retired police and defense personnel appointed as security supervisors across all state-run hospitals and medical colleges.
A notification issued on Tuesday by the office of the additional director general of police (law & order) outlines the eligibility criteria for these new posts.
The government will consider retired police officers, from Inspector to Superintendent, who served within the past two years and meet physical fitness requirements for these roles.
Similarly, retired personnel from the Indian Army and Indian Air Force with equivalent ranks are also eligible.
District police superintendents will gather information about eligible retired personnel in their jurisdictions.
Applications for these positions are due by 24 August.
The state health department will cover the costs associated with the new security posts.
Meanwhile, the move comes as part of a broader response to the tragic incident, which has prompted the Supreme Court to mandate the creation of a national task force.
This task force however will be responsible for recommending measures to enhance the safety of medical professionals across India.
The court has emphasized that the security of doctors is a paramount national concern.
In the wake of the RG Kar Medical College incident, there have been increasing concerns about inadequate security at state-run hospitals.
Reports further indicate that certain areas within hospital premises are left unmonitored after dark, leading to incidents of antisocial behavior, including drug and alcohol use.
Medical and non-medical staff complaints about lax security arrangements have compounded these issues.
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