Guwahati: Days after the tragic incident involving the rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, an Assam-based state-run medical college issued an advisory to its female doctors and students. The advisory urged them to “avoid situations where they are alone” and advised them to “graciously interact with the public to avoid attracting unnecessary attention from unscrupulous individuals.”
The advisory sparked outrage both on campus and across social media, leading to its withdrawal by Silchar Medical College and Hospital. Critics labelled the advisory as “misogynistic.” They argued that the college administration should prioritise enhancing campus safety for women rather than prescribing behavior guidelines.
“Female doctors, students, and staff should generally avoid isolated, poorly lit, and sparsely populated areas. Female doctors, students, and staff should, as much as possible, avoid situations where they are alone,” the advisory said.
“Avoid going off-campus during late or odd hours. All Hostel borders should abide by the hostel norms & regulations laid by the institute and administration. Be cautious and avoid associating with individuals who appear unknown or are suspicious in nature,” the advisory said, NDTV reported.
Document sparks anger
The document said that the hospital administration finds it necessary to issue this advisory in light of the tragic incident at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata. It added that women doctors and students must always ensure they have a means of making emergency contact.
“While on duty you should be well composed emotionally, remain alert about the surroundings and should graciously interact with the public, so that you don’t attract unnecessary attention of unscrupulous people,” the advisory added in another point.
Junior Doctors’ Association condemns
The advisory urged students and female doctors to report grievances to internal committees, sparking criticism for its focus on confinement rather than security. The Junior Doctors’ Association condemned the advisory, demanding better campus security, including more CCTV cameras and lighting, while threatening protest if their demands aren’t met within 48 hours.