The gruesome incident of rape and murder of a trainee doctor in a Kolkata hospital this month has renewed public fury and horror over the inability of authorities to halt chronic violence against women and girls in India. It has also brought pinprick reminders of long-held concerns about the safety of healthcare professionals in the country.
In an exclusive interview with News18 on Saturday, Karnataka’s minister for health and family welfare Dinesh Gundu Rao addressed such concerns and shared details of his government’s initiatives to allay those fears while also responding to speculation of chief minister Siddaramaiah possibly stepping down in the near future over an alleged land allotment scam. Edited excerpts:
In light of the heinous crime in Kolkata, Karnataka has set up a special task force. What have been the recommendations?
That incident has truly shaken the entire country, especially the medical fraternity. The safety of doctors, particularly women medical professionals, has become a point of concern and great importance. The incident was gruesome and horrific, prompting us to reassess everything that we were doing.
We have consulted various stakeholders and established a task force and committee to provide us with a report within a month to improve the infrastructure and use technology to ensure safety and security. We are looking for implementable programmes, with our paramount effort being to provide a safe environment for medical professionals. We are also considering developing apps, panic buttons, and providing proper infrastructure, such as secure resting rooms for medical professionals. They should feel that their safety is being taken care of. We have also amended laws to enhance the safety of doctors.
Will there be further amendments to the laws in view of the panel report?
No, but we will be seriously looking at licensing and setting special parameters. Those seeking licences or renewing them will need to specify what they are doing to ensure the safety of women medical professionals. This can become part of the mandate and will be included in the report.
Will there be safe zones for resting for medical professionals?
Certain measures will be made mandatory before the issuing of permissions and licences. Duty rooms, CCTVs, grievance redressal systems, and stricter implementation of existing laws will be required. When such incidents occur, we often come up with suggestions, but the real challenge is to put them into practice and implement them effectively.
The issue in Kolkata at the RG Kar Hospital has now snowballed into a full-blown political battle. Even Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi criticised West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, and the issue has shifted towards becoming a Congress vs TMC conflict. What is your take on this?
Unfortunately, in India, everything becomes politicised, but issues like this must be handled with a great deal of sensitivity, and we should not allow it to become another political battle. I believe West Bengal should have been more sensitive to the situation. The BJP is also politicising this as a way to target Mamata Banerjee’s government. In BJP-ruled states, similar incidents are happening, but they are not speaking about them. Every government should act with sensitivity.
Did West Bengal mismanage the issue?
When the issue first emerged, they responded as though they were being attacked, which was not the appropriate reaction. They should have been considerate and empathetic, ensuring that law and order were maintained. We must break away from the patriarchal mindset seen in states like UP and Bihar, where political leaders act without sensitivity. Mamata may have attempted to do the right thing, but the way it came across was different. We need to change societal attitudes, especially concerning the abuse of women and children. This sickness within society must be rooted out.
In Karnataka, is the government going to last? Will Siddaramaiah continue as chief minister?
There is no change in the chief minister. This is merely a conspiracy, and the chief minister has not done anything wrong. We have stated this numerous times. The fact is that our party is stronger than ever before. We know this is a conspiracy to harass our chief minister and our government, particularly regarding the pro-poor programmes we have delivered to the people. The BJP is trying to create a crisis, but we have delivered, and they want to derail this progress. In fact, the Congress is more united than ever, and we are fighting this together.
Is the chief minister under pressure, or is he becoming a stronger leader?
He is not under pressure. He has done nothing wrong and, in fact, he has become more assertive. Incidents like this motivate him to demonstrate his capabilities, which will ultimately benefit the state and the Congress. This will be a better government. Whatever the BJP is trying will ultimately fail. It is their MLAs who are facing serious charges. They have been investigated and charges have been filed. We have sought sanction from the governor to prosecute them. This will eventually lead to their downfall, as the governor cannot be selective. If he is taking action against Siddaramaiah, he must do the same with HD Kumaraswamy and other BJP leaders when required. He must listen to the cabinet’s recommendations.
Will this lead to resignations (in the BJP)?
I believe it should lead to the resignation of Kumaraswamy. He is the mines minister, and if the governor sanctions it, he will be prosecuted for a major corruption scandal, which has been investigated and for which charges have been filed. The ball is now in their court, and there is a great deal of evidence against him.
Will there be a change in leadership?
There is no such possibility. There has been no wrongdoing. You may interpret it in different ways, but CM Siddaramaiah was not in power at the time. He stated that when he was in power, such allotments would not be made, and he did not misuse his office. This demonstrates his high moral conduct. What more can you expect from a political leader? The BJP may say anything, but it reflects his high moral conduct.