“The programme will be conducted in all districts. Organisations will be encouraged to design schedules for women to work in pairs or teams and be aware of each other’s movements during night hours,” the statement said. (Photo: PTI)
Following the rape and murder of a female doctor on leave from the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, the West Bengal government has introduced a new initiative called ‘Rattirer Shaathi’ aimed at improving the safety of women working night shifts.
Alapan Bandyopadhyay, Principal Advisor to the Chief Minister of West Bengal, announced the flagship programme during a press conference on Saturday.
“After the RG Kar incident, a new app for women’s safety. WEST BENGAL GOVERNMENT’S FLAGSHIP PROGRAMME FOR SAFETY OF WOMEN WORKING NIGHT SHIFT,” Alapan Bandyopadhyay, IAS (retd), Principal Advisor to the Chief Minister of West Bengal, shared this at a press conference on Saturday, a press release said.
The initiative, called “Rattirer Shaathi” or “Night Helpers”, will involve the development of a special mobile app equipped with alarm devices. This app will be mandatory for all working women and will be connected to local police stations and the police control room.
“She said about the ‘Rattirer Shaathi’ NIGHT HELPER initiative that a special mobile phone application with alarm devices will be developed which will be compulsorily downloaded by all working women and will be connected with local police stations or police control room. Helpline No. 100/112 should be widely used during any panic or emergency situation. Rattirer Shaathi or women volunteers will be on duty during night time,” the statement said.
According to the initiative, there should be separate, designated bathrooms with toilets for women.
“Safe zones for women will be identified and created with full CCTV coverage and surveillance. Security checks and alcohol testing will be conducted in medical colleges and hospitals, super-speciality hospitals and district hospitals. She mentioned that all organisations will be asked to set up a Visakha Committee on sexual harassment of women at workplaces, if not done so,” the statement said.
A sensitization programme is also being carried out across all levels of government on issues related to women’s safety and private organizations are being urged to do the same.
“The programme will be implemented in all districts. Organisations will be encouraged to design schedules so that women work in pairs or teams and are aware of each other’s movements during night hours,” the statement said.
The Government’s call to private institutions to establish Rattirer Shaathi protocol will also be encouraged.
In addition, the following measures may also be taken: night police patrols shall be conducted in all medical colleges and hospitals, women’s hostels and other similar places, adequate drinking water facilities shall be provided on all floors of hospitals etc., all teaching staff, staff, security guards etc. shall hang and display identity cards in medical colleges and hospitals, a security officer shall be posted by the police in all medical colleges and hospitals and in district hospitals for general supervision of security, working hours of women including doctors shall not exceed 12 hours at a stretch wherever possible, night duty for women may be avoided as far as possible and security guards in government medical colleges and hospitals, district medical colleges and hospitals and hospitals shall be a mix of male and female security guards.
On August 9, a postgraduate doctor was found dead in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, triggering nationwide protests by doctors and medical professionals.
(Only the headline and image of this report may have been reworked by Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
First published: August 17, 2024 | 11:33 PM IS
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