Mamata Banerjee releases song for Chhath Puja, played at ghats across Bengal
The governing body of junior doctors held an extensive meeting lasting about 10 hours, ending at 6 am on Friday. However, there remains uncertainty about whether they will withdraw their strike and return to work. Sources suggest there is a strong possibility of the strike continuing, though some opposition to this was voiced during the meeting. The junior doctors explored alternative avenues of protest, but the final decision on the strike is expected to be announced later on Friday.
Junior doctors from RG Kar Hospital convened on Thursday evening, followed by a pan-general body meeting with representatives from all medical colleges later in the night. While the outcome of the meeting remains unclear, sources indicate that the doctors may organize a protest march. Additionally, they might give the government another deadline to address their demands for workplace safety and improvements in the health sector.
The junior doctors had previously suspended their strike but resumed it after the Supreme Court's hearing on the RG Kar case on September 30. They cited ongoing incidents of harassment at Sagar Dutta Hospital as evidence that the government's safety assurances have not been implemented. As a result, they announced a complete strike, which has severely impacted healthcare services across the state. With nearly 7,000 junior doctors on strike, senior doctors are struggling to maintain essential services, but their numbers are insufficient.
The timing of the strike is particularly concerning as large parts of the state are dealing with floods, and Durga Puja is approaching. Many doctors typically take leave during the festival, further reducing the number of available medical professionals. Senior doctors have urged junior doctors to consider alternative forms of protest to prevent the collapse of the state's healthcare system. Following this advice, junior doctors held their internal discussions.