How safe are women in India? Over a million doctors strike in protest of Kolkata doctor’s rape and murder

Hospitals and clinics across India ground to a halt on Saturday as more than one million doctors launched a 24-hour strike to protest the brutal rape and murder of a young doctor in Kolkata. 

The strike, which paralyzed medical services in the world’s most populous nation, was sparked by the horrifying incident at RG Kar Medical College, drawing chilling parallels to the infamous 2012 Delhi gang rape.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) organized the strike at 6 a.m. (00:30 London time), effectively cutting off access to elective procedures and outpatient consultations. 

Only emergency cases were attended to, with faculty staff from medical colleges stepping in to manage the situation. 

The 31-year-old trainee doctor’s tragic death has ignited nationwide outrage, with doctors and citizens alike demanding swift justice.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of West Bengal, where Kolkata is located, has expressed strong support for the protests. 

She has called for the investigation to be expedited and for the perpetrators to face the harshest possible penalties. 

In response, numerous private clinics and diagnostic centers in Kolkata remained closed on Saturday.

The shutdown extended beyond West Bengal, affecting major cities across India, including Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Guwahati, and Chennai. 

The scale of the strike has made it one of the largest shutdowns of hospital services in recent memory.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is handling the investigation, has summoned several medical students from RG Kar Medical College to determine the circumstances surrounding the crime. 

The incident: What we know so far

On the night of August 9, the trainee doctor, who was on duty at one of Kolkata’s leading government hospitals, sought rest in a seminar hall after a long shift. 

What she believed was a safe space turned into a crime scene when her lifeless body was discovered the next morning. 

Initially reported as a suicide, an autopsy later revealed the horrific truth: she had been raped and murdered.

This revelation sent shockwaves through the medical community and beyond, leading to widespread protests and demands for justice. 

The initial mishandling of the case by hospital authorities has further fueled public outrage, underscoring the systemic issues within both the medical and legal systems.

‘Reclaim the night’

Despite sweeping changes to the criminal justice system after the 2012 Delhi gang rape, including tougher sentences, campaigners argue that little has changed. 

The failure of stricter laws to deter the rising tide of violence against women has fueled the current protests by doctors and women’s groups.

“Women form the majority of our profession in this country. Time and again, we have asked for safety for them,” IMA President R.V. Asokan told Reuters on Friday. 

The IMA has called for further legal measures to protect healthcare workers from violence and for a swift investigation into the “barbaric” crime in Kolkata.

Senior criminal lawyer Shobha Gupta, who has represented victims of sexual violence, emphasized the need for harsher punishments and timely execution of justice, reflecting the widespread demand for accountability in this tragic case.

In response to the tragedy, feminist groups and activists organized protests across India. 

Kolkata saw large-scale demonstrations under the banner of “Reclaim the Night,” where hundreds of citizens took to the streets demanding accountability and better safety measures. 

The protests quickly spread to other cities, including Delhi, amplifying the call for justice. 

However, not all demonstrations were peaceful. 

Some protesters vandalized property at the medical college, prompting police intervention. 

How safe are women in India?

The case has sparked international outrage and renewed focus on India’s persistent issue of sexual violence against women, a problem that has repeatedly made headlines following several high-profile cases. 

Among these were the brutal rapes of a 22-year-old intern in Delhi in 2012, a 71-year-old Catholic nun in West Bengal in 2015, and a 26-year-old veterinarian near Hyderabad in 2019. Tragically, two of these women lost their lives.

According to the Georgetown Institute’s 2023 Women, Peace, and Security Index, India scored 0.595 out of 1 point, placing it 128th among 177 countries. The report highlighted a particularly high level of political violence targeting women, with India recording the seventh-most incidents globally. 

Source: Statista

Commenting on the latest Kolkata rape case, several Indian women we spoke to shared their horrible experiences highlighting a broader troubling reality. 

Vanshika, who felt safer in Mumbai compared to her hometown in Uttar Pradesh, recalls a disturbing incident of public indecency.

Ruhi, who experienced molestation at sacred temples, and Pratiksha, who faced victim-blaming after sexual abuse, reveal the pervasive nature of gender-based violence in India.

Similarly, Palak shared a disheartening account of how repeated abuse has desensitized her, while Diksha recounted a traumatic school experience with a teacher. 

These personal stories underscore the broader issue of women’s safety and the urgent need for systemic change.

India’s National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reported a 12.9% increase in crimes against women from 2018 to 2022, with the crime rate per 100,000 women rising from 58.8 in 2018 to 66.4 in 2022.

Regional disparities are also striking. India’s capital Delhi has the highest crime rate against women at 144.4 per 100,000 women, followed by Haryana (118.7) and Telangana (117). 

The tragic death of the young doctor in Kolkata has brought the issue of women’s safety to the forefront of national consciousness. 

The outrage and demands for justice reflect a growing recognition of the need for comprehensive reforms to protect women and ensure their safety in all spheres of life. 

As the investigation progresses and protests continue, it is clear that the movement for change is gaining momentum, calling for accountability, justice, and a safer future for women across India.

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