The Justice for RG Kar protest sparked after the horrific rape and murder of an on duty female trainee doctor in RG Kar Medical College & Hospital, Kolkata on August 9th, soon turned into a historic mass movement. The administrative efforts to cover up the heinous crime and blaming the victim for the assaults inflicted on her not only unveiled the utter lack of workplace safety, but also the deep-rooted rape culture and long standing corruption and syndicate-raj prevailing within the public healthcare system of the state. In the intervening night of August 14th, thousands of women and gender minorities from different backgrounds across the state (and even outside the state) marched through the cities, towns and villages with the call of ‘Reclaim the Night’ reasserting their demands of gender justice, equal rights, freedom & safety. The culture of belittling women’s voices and roles in every social sphere was challenged by the sea of women thronging over the streets. The protests gradually intensified in the months of August, September and October, and the battle for justice soon surfaced all over as one of the remarkable citizens’ protests in the history of recent times. Junior doctors and women across the sections played crucial role with everyday marches, human chains, demonstrations, gatherings raising crucial questions on workplace security, rotten health administration and deep-seated patriarchal norms of the society. Amidst the festivities in the month of October, the citizens’ protest into their festival echoing ‘revolution is the festival of the oppressed’!

The Justice for RG Kar movement added a greater dimension to the demand of justice from a broader perspective. Successive efforts have been made to inculcate consciousness regarding the need for structural changes to ensure equality and the right to live with dignity. The movement upheld women’s agency and rejected any form of protectionism, control, surveillance and restrictions imposed in the name of 'safety', which further narrow down the presence of women in public spaces and strengthen discrimination. In solidarity with the junior doctors’ movement, citizens held the administration accountable and advocated for strengthening the anti-sexual harassment committees, effective implementation of PoSH Act, infrastructural changes and reforms for corruption-free system in both the organized and unorganized sectors. The movement consciously rejected fascist forces like BJP, who are ideologically anti-women and misogynist. Everyone has witnessed the role of their leaders and ministers in the Gujarat riots, Kathua, Unnao, Hathras, or the incidents of wrestlers and Bilkis Bano. Presently, CBI has submitted a charge-sheet against the primary accused, a civic volunteer, Sanjay Rai, in the case being heard in Sealdah Court. The investigation is also being supervised as a part of suo moto case registered by the Supreme Court.

The forum of junior doctors, including the residents and interns, West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front (WBJDF) continued a 42 days cease-work together with a long sit-in protest in front of the administrative building of Health Department ‘Swasthyo Bhawan’ on 5 specific demands which was initially withdrawn after multiple negotiations with the Chief Minister and state officials. On September 21st, junior doctors resumed partial duties after assurances that their other demands be met at the earliest.

Within 10 days of resuming work, multiple incidences of assault on doctors and nurses and the absolute lack of any specific directives or concrete efforts from the state government, pushed the junior doctors to intensify the battle with an indefinite hunger strike (fast unto death) from October 5th, seeking the implementation of their 10-point charter focusing on justice and reforms in health system to prevent any such heinous crime in the future. A group of 7 doctors started a hunger strike at Esplanade, the centre of the city, while another 2 doctors did so in North Bengal Medical College. More than 50 senior doctors of RG Kar and more than 70 senior doctors from several government colleges across the State tendered mass resignation in solidarity with the junior doctors as the government refused to deliver any concrete commitment. However, they continued to work during the period to prevent any crisis in the public healthcare system.

Apart from the demand of justice for the RG Kar victim and the removal of State Health Secretary NS Nigam, the junior doctors specifically demanded a centralised referral system with implementation of a bed vacancy monitoring system for all hospitals and medical colleges. They demanded formation of task forces that would include among others elected junior doctor representatives, to ensure provisions for CCTVs as and where required, on-call rooms, washrooms, ICCs and immediate filling of all vacant positions of doctors and healthcare workers along with appointment of adequate numbers of male and female police personnel, in place of the civic volunteers. Junior doctors held the Health Department accountable for the administrative failures and corruption and demanded formation of investigative committees and a state-level inquiry committee to examine the rampant corruption within the West Bengal Medical Council and the West Bengal Health Recruitment Board, aiming to abolish the “threat culture” indulged in by vested interests. To ensure democratic representation of all stakeholders, they also demanded immediate student council elections in all medical colleges, with recognition of RDAs (resident doctors association) and elected student and junior doctor representation in all decision-making bodies.

During the entire hunger strike movement, thousands of citizens have poured onto the streets in solidarity with the just demands. Huge gatherings near the Esplanade protest site, solidarity hunger strikes, decentralised and centralised protest marches and demonstrations have become a daily routine to encourage the spirit of resistance. The horrific incident at RG Kar also cast a pall over the festival celebrations. Several clubs throughout West Bengal rejected the state government's festival grant. The typical festive celebrations were subdued due to collective anger and outrage and the citizens were determined to take the battle one step forward. Meanwhile, 9 student protestors were arrested for raising the ‘we want justice’ slogan in a puja pandal, denied bail and taken into police custody. Eventually, the High Court sanctioned their bail in an emergency hearing held two days after this arrest. A failed meeting between junior doctors and representatives of the state government held at Swasthya Bhavan on October 10th deepened the outrage further. Six fasting junior doctors had to be hospitalised following severe deterioration of their health parameters, while the insensitive government continued to be apathetic.

After enduring 16 days of hunger strike for better working conditions and infrastructure improvements in the healthcare sector, protesting junior doctors were invited to a meeting with the Chief Minister on October 21st. A team of 17 doctors took part in a two-hour-long meeting with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and other officials and discussed their demands to ensure justice and safety and uproot corruption and ‘threat culture’ from health system. After receiving some assurance of specific directives and remedial measures on election of student bodies, taskforces, enquiry committee etc. by the state government, the hunger strike was withdrawn on request of the citizens and the parents of RG Kar victim. While calling off the hunger strike and with a resolve to carry forward the struggle further, the doctors expressed their extreme disappointment regarding the intentions and intimidating tone of the state government during the entire period.

The RG Kar Medical College rape and murder case have highlighted the need to reassess the status of implementation of the PoSH Act and grievance committees. While the crime took place inside hospital premises, it is not just about the safety for doctors and health workers. The question arises, how exactly will equal rights and safety be ensured in organised (public and private) and unorganised workplaces? The women and queer individuals taking part in the movement in huge numbers have repeatedly shared their experience about highly insensitive police, administration and authorities while reporting any sexual harassment faced in personal and public spaces, including workplaces. There is a constant fear from political leaders, goons, and even close relatives when making complaints against someone in power or somebody from the family. The situation of the marginalised genders is even worse. In the patriarchal family and society, they are constantly subjected to harassment, ridicule, physical and mental abuse. The time has come to stand up against the institutional inaction and demand systemic changes and accountability to address and prevent any form of sexual harassment. No more silencing or blaming the survivors, no more impunity to the perpetrators close to the power!

On one hand, 24-hour affordable public transport and accessible public toilets, creches, restrooms, hostels and safe rooms for women and people from oppressed gender identities are needed. On the other hand, special initiatives are needed to increase sensitization within the police administration and ensure equal participation of all gender identities at all levels of the force. Gender equality lessons should be introduced in school curriculum. The Women's Commission should be restructured and made functional, taking inputs from progressive women's organisations and gender activists. Thousands of women working as ASHA, anganwadi or mid-day meal workers, bereft of government recognition or social security, are constantly subjected to discrimination and sexual harassment. A holistic 'gender audit' is needed to bring out the true picture of women's participation in every workplace, including in unorganised sectors. What is the wage gap between women and men, how effectual the recommendations of the Justice Verma Commission have proved to be, how many crimes have been reported against women and how many of them have received justice, what is the status of Nirbhaya Fund, how women and marginalised people are treated in the police stations, how effective are the women's helpline numbers or ‘one stop crisis centers’ in the districts, what is the status of fast track courts, what is the status of Internal Complaint Committees (ICC) in workplaces and Local Complaint Committees (LCC) at district or block level – the government must bring the detailed audit report on these and similar other issues into daylight and take actions accordingly upon regular survey and assessment. If these issues are not addressed, justice will not be served to the large number of women who have been leading this movement to assert their desire for a just and egalitarian system. Let us march towards a society free from violence, discrimination and exploitation, for rights to justice, equality, dignity and freedom without fear!