Colleagues report that the post-mortem of the body revealed evidence of gang-rape. Police have arrested one suspect so far. Through the strike, the doctors are demanding safer working conditions and punishment for the culprits.
Protests have been going on across India for the past few days. Today, more than a million medical workers are expected to participate in the strike, which will greatly cripple care in the world’s most populous country. Hospitals announced that faculty members of medical colleges would be called upon to respond to emergencies. Eyewitnesses reported long queues outside hospitals.
A rape is reported every quarter of an hour
In light of the protests, Prime Minister Modi asked for an urgent investigation into crimes against women. Central police are investigating. According to official data, a new rape case is reported in India every 15 minutes. Laws punishing sexual assaults have been toughened. However, many women in India still do not report crimes because of stigma and lack of trust in the police and judiciary. Women’s rights activists therefore insist that the actual number of cases is much higher.
In addition, doctors experience repeated violence in the workplace. They are often attacked by relatives, especially when patients die. A 2019 study by the Indian Medical Association found that up to three-quarters of medical professionals in India have experienced threats or physical attacks.
This message was sent on August 17, 2024 in the Deutschlandfunk program.
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