SMCH Advisory Urging Female Doctors to Avoid Nighttime Campus Walks Sparks Backlash After Kolkata Incident
Assam Medical College authorities are facing backlash after advising female doctors and staff to avoid walking alone at night.
Image Credits: Times of India
The authorities of Assam’s Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH) are facing backlash after issuing an advisory urging female doctors and staff to avoid roaming alone at night. Dr. Bhaskar Gupta, the principal and chief superintendent of the institute, stated that the advisory was issued following the recent tragic incident at R.G. Kar Medical College in Kolkata. The advisory recommended that female doctors and staff avoid isolated, poorly lit, and sparsely populated areas at night.
Dr. Gupta’s advisory further advised female doctors, students, and staff to avoid leaving their hostels or lodging rooms during night hours unless absolutely necessary and to inform the concerned authority beforehand. He also suggested avoiding off-campus travel during late or odd hours, adhering to hostel norms, and being cautious around unfamiliar or suspicious individuals. Dr. Gupta emphasized the importance of having a means of emergency contact and remaining emotionally composed, alert, and courteous while on duty to avoid attracting unwanted attention from unscrupulous people.
The authorities also instructed that any issues or grievances be reported to the Chairman or Members of the Gender Harassment Committee, Disciplinary Committee, Internal Complaint Committee, or Anti-Ragging Committee. Dr. Gupta stated that the advisory was issued in the best interest of the doctors, students, and staff at SMCH, particularly female members, and aimed to prevent any untoward incidents.
However, the advisory received strong criticism from students, who argued that the focus should be on improving security arrangements rather than restricting their movements. A female doctor, speaking anonymously, expressed frustration over the lack of proper security on campus and felt insulted by the advisory’s suggestion to stay in their rooms. The Junior Doctors’ Association (JDS) of SMCH also condemned the wording of the advisory, describing it as disturbing.
JDS President Salman Choudhary stated that while they respected the authorities’ concern, the advisory was not a solution and urged the administration to address the long-standing security issues at SMCH. The students had earlier staged a protest against the R.G. Kar incident, lighting candles in memory of the deceased doctor.
Late on Tuesday night, Dr. Gupta announced that the authorities would withdraw the existing advisory and issue a revised one the following day.
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