The recent incident of gang rape and murder of a female medical doctor of the R G Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata has shaken the conscience of the nation and set off a debate on assault on the women and safety issues. What has further enraged the entire country is because a woman has been violated at her workplace. Initially, the authorities, including the hospital, sought to pass off the incident as suicide. The police thought it fit to launch a murder investigation only after the parents of the victim complained. One person was arrested but there may be more who are involved. The police probe made little headway, prompting the Calcutta High Court to order an investigation by the CBI.
The Indian Medical Association has written to the National Task Force (NTF), which has been tasked with developing protocols to ensure the safety and security of healthcare professionals, reiterating its demand for a central law against violence towards doctors and hospitals, and for declaring hospitals as safe zones. Reasoning that deterrence is the best form of prevention, the IMA said that unlike other measures, a strong central law will prevent violence across all sectors, especially the small and medium ones. It will serve as an enabling Act to the state legislations. Secondly, the IMA said the concept of safe zones in hospitals could be embedded in the proposed law as well.
In the medical profession, the percentage of women is around 60 and it is bound to increase. It is our duty to ensure their safety and security not only outside but also within their workplace. The existing laws are proving ineffective in curbing crimes against women. Coming to steps to deal with sexual violence, what is desperately needed is a return to morality, a value system that respects and protects women. This may sound outdated in an era of rapid modernisation, but it is perhaps the only effective way. The roots of such heinous crimes lie deep in a culture that has lost touch with basic human values, where women are objectified, and violence is normalised.
The continuing incidences of rapes of women and young children across the country demand harsh deterrent measures. An effective and long-lasting solution would be stringent punishment together with societal transformation through reform and awareness. While laws are essential, they are not enough. A societal shift towards moral values with empathy and respect for others is crucial. Multi-pronged efforts are required and mass education must play a central role in this endeavour. Families, schools, and communities need to instill respect for women from a young age. The media, too, has a responsibility to portray women with respect and to challenge the stereotypes that fuel such violence.
