SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Oct 14: Junior doctors from all medical colleges in Jharkhand will observe a 12-hour fast from 6 AM to 6 PM tomorrow at their respective institutions. This initiative is in support of the junior doctors at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College, who have been on an indefinite hunger strike.
The national body of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has called for this dawn-to-dusk fast and has urged all IMA chapters across the states to participate in solidarity with the Kolkata junior doctors. On Sunday evening, the IMA national president and secretary general discussed this matter with state chapter office bearers.
The IMA’s national body has tasked the Junior Doctors Network (JDN), Medical Students Network, and Junior Doctors Association (JDA) in Jharkhand to spearhead the agitation under the guidance of the IMA.
Also Read- ED raids kin, aide of drinking water minister, IAS officer in Jharkhand
Dr Raghvendra Rathore, secretary of the JDN Jharkhand chapter, announced that detailed arrangements have been made for the 12-hour fast, which will take place statewide. All branches of the IMA will participate actively in this demonstration to support the Kolkata junior doctors’ demands.
Background of Kolkata agitation
The young doctors in Kolkata have been on a hunger strike since October 5 in pursuit of their demands. Unfortunately, three of the protesting doctors have been hospitalized due to critical health conditions.
Meanwhile, IMA national president Dr RV Ashokan, along with Bengal IMA president Dr Dilip Kumar Dutta and secretary Santanu Sen, visited the fasting doctors and their leaders on Sunday, appealing to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to accept the junior doctors’ demands.
Participating medical colleges
The dawn-to-dusk fast will be observed at all six medical college campuses in Jharkhand, including Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi; Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College Hospital, Jamshedpur; Shahid Nirmal Mahto Medical College Hospital, Dhanbad; Phulo Jhano Medical College Hospital, Dumka; Sheikh Bhikhari Medical College Hospital, Hazaribagh and Mednirai Medical College Hospital, Palamu.
