Agitating Bengal junior doctors withdraw hunger strike after meeting CM

In West Bengal, agitating junior doctors on Monday evening withdrew their weeks-long hunger strike over the RG Kar incident, hours after a meeting with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.The medics also called off their proposed shutdown in the state's health sector from Tuesday till an indefinite period. "In today's meeting (with the CM), we did get the assurance of some directives, but the body language of the state government was not positive... The common people have wholeheartedly supported us. They, as well as the parents of our deceased sister (RG Kar hospital victim), have been requesting us to call off the hunger strike, keeping in mind our deteriorating health.

#WATCH | Sayantani Ghosh Hazra, a junior doctor who was on hunger strike says, " Today the meeting that took place with CM, we got the opportunity to discuss many things and she also spoke to us many things. We have got some directives which she said that we will get by 3pm… https://t.co/3lvbrnxtyN pic.twitter.com/2G4JXrpUHe

— ANI (@ANI) October 21, 2024

The two sides discussed various demands of the medics including the prevailing 'threat culture' at state-run hospitals. During the meeting , it was decided to establish a state-level task force committee. This committee will comprise five representatives from the state government, headed by the Chief Secretary, alongside five representatives from the medical community, including two senior resident doctors, two junior resident doctors, and a female student.The committee will oversee the functioning of all college-related grievances and address health-related issues.