Tag: West Bengal

Why Bengal Would Do Well to Heed to Junior Doctors’ Demands on Health Infrastructure

The demands could directly address problems arising out of resource constraints and a shortage of medical professionals.

West Bengal has witnessed continuous protests for the last two months after the incident of rape and murder that took place in one of the city’s prominent medical college hospitals. Junior doctors under the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front have led the protests, but the spontaneous participation of the common masses from all walks of life has made the protest a movement of the people.

The mode of protest has also changed. Initially, the junior doctors went on a complete ‘cease work’; from there, they resorted to a partial ‘cease work’. At present, the junior doctors have returned to work. Some junior doctors also observed a hunger strike – they ended it on October 22 but their protest is still ongoing.

In a democracy, protest plays a significant role in the expression of dissent. It is also helpful in understanding the context and the reason behind an agitation. This article focuses on the demands of the junior doctors.

Three of their ten demands – that a central referral system be implemented in the state’s hospitals and medical colleges (demand 3 in the list that the doctors gave the state government), that every hospital and medical college have a digital bed vacancy monitor (demand 4) and that vacant positions for doctors, nurses and health workers in hospitals be filled immediately (demand 7) – directly concern the state’s health infrastructure.

There are two views regarding the junior doctors’ demands; they argue that some of their demands will favour the state’s common people, but others deny this claim.

This article attempts to understand demands 3 and 4 and if their fulfilment will serve society at large within the context of the existing medical facilities in the state.

Where does the majority of the population go for health services?

Public healthcare facilities are the primary source of healthcare in the state. According to the latest National Family Health Survey data, around 69.6% of total households – 73.2% in rural areas and 62.4% in urban areas – depend on public sector healthcare facilities. The remaining 25.5% of total households depend on the private sector, mainly private doctors or clinics. Only 3% of total households go to private hospitals.

Thus, any demands concerning the public healthcare system are, in fact, in favour of the majority of the population in the state. The heavy dependence on the public sector motivates us to understand the structure of the healthcare system in the state.

Also read: The R.G. Kar Protests Conquered Fear. But Have They Done Much Else?

Basic structure of the healthcare system in West Bengal

The healthcare system is divided into three tiers: primary, secondary and tertiary.

The primary healthcare system consists of sub-health centres, primary health centres and community health centres. The main aim of primary healthcare facilities is prevention, the promotion of health and addressing health problems. Primary healthcare facilities are found across the rural and urban areas of any state.

Secondary healthcare facilities include district hospitals, sub-divisional hospitals, state general hospitals, multi-specialty hospitals and rural hospitals. The basic aim of secondary healthcare facilities is to provide specialised treatment to patients referred to them from the primary tier.

The highest tier is tertiary care and consists of medical college hospitals. Tertiary healthcare facilities provide highly specialised treatment for a relatively prolonged period of time. In West Bengal, as per official data, there were 913 primary health centres, 75 block primary health centres, 273 rural hospitals, 24 state general hospitals, 36 sub-divisional hospitals, 42 multi super-specialist hospitals, 18 district hospitals and 18 medical colleges in 2018*.

In 2023, the scenario stood changed. The number of medical colleges increased to 24 and the number of district hospitals declined to 14. The number of sub-divisional hospitals, state general hospitals and primary healthcare facilities increased over the years.

The three-tier structure allows patients to be referred from the primary to the secondary to the tertiary sector. This existing structure can be better understood if we focus on the spatial distribution of some essential indicators as discussed below.

Figure 1: Structure of healthcare facilities in West Bengal in 2018. Source: Health on the March 2018.

 

Structure of healthcare facilities in West Bengal in 2023. Source: Health Dynamics of India 2022-23.

Spatial concentration of healthcare facilities

As per the data in the 2018 official publication Health on the March, West Bengal had a total of 18 medical college hospitals across all its 23 districts. Of the 18 medical college hospitals, five were in Kolkata. The remaining 13 medical college hospitals were in the following districts: Bankura, Murshidabad, Purba Bardhaman, Birbhum, Darjeeling, Cooch Behar, Malda, Nadia, North 24 Parganas, Paschim Medinipur, South 24 Parganas and Uttar Dinajpur.

Until 2017, there were only 13 medical colleges. However, in 2018, five more district hospitals were upgraded to medical college hospitals.

Between 2018 and 2023, the number of medical colleges increased to 24. Most districts now have at least one tertiary medical college facility, except a few like Alipurduar, Kalimpong, Dakshin Dinajpur and Paschim Bardhaman.

However, the major tertiary government medical facilities continued to be concentrated in and around Kolkata. Below is the spatial distribution of medical colleges in the state in 2018 and 2023 respectively.

Source: Health on the March 2016-17 & 2017-18 & Health Dynamics of India 2022-23.

To fully grasp the challenges and bottlenecks faced by patients in accessing inpatient services, it’s essential to also analyse the infrastructure of lower-level hospitals.

There has been a notable spatial concentration of in-patient infrastructure as measured by the population served per bed in public facilities across districts, with Kolkata and the nearby districts, along with a few northern districts, having better infrastructure (less than 1,000 served per bed).

However, infrastructure scarcity in some districts can force patients to resort to costly and often subpar private care or travel to better-equipped districts and facilities.

Due to the absence of recent data, the number of beds, the bed occupancy ratio, and the percentage of discharged patients who were referred out are given for 2016. This data is taken from Health on the March 2018, which is available on the government’s website.

Source: Health on the March 2016-17 & 2017-18.

Bed occupancy rate

A crucial indicator for assessing in-patient service utilisation is the bed occupancy rate (BOR), representing the percentage of hospital beds occupied during a certain period. A high BOR suggests significant strain on hospital resources, while a BOR exceeding 100% indicates a shortage of beds relative to demand. Elevated BORs also highlight substantial pressure on the healthcare system, potentially jeopardising patient safety.

Official data suggests a shortage of beds in district and medical college hospitals.

Source: Health on the March, 2016-17 & 2017-18.

The significant strain on hospital resources highlights the need to examine referral statistics.

The image below shows the percentage of discharged patients who were referred out in 2016. It reveals that the highest referral rates have been from sub-divisional and state general hospitals, followed by rural hospitals and block-level primary health centres.

Notably, over 18% of discharged patients in sub-divisional or state general hospitals are referred to district and medical college hospitals, which already experience bed shortages.

Source: Health on the March 2016-17 & 2017-18.

Social researcher Kumar Rana also notes that healthcare facilities in West Bengal are largely reliant on the tertiary sector, highlighting the vulnerable state of primary healthcare services.

A reasonable demand

This official data merely skims the surface of the complex issues currently confronting the healthcare system in West Bengal. Nevertheless, the healthcare metrics discussed here highlight the uneven distribution of healthcare infrastructure within the state, shortages, and frequent referrals to higher-level facilities located in specific regions and urban areas, necessitating travel for necessary care.

This situation often leaves patients and their families dealing with high costs, delays and significant uncertainty and confusion. The result is not only a threat to patient health, but also a potential erosion of trust between patients and healthcare professionals.

The healthcare system in West Bengal and India as a whole grapples with significant resource constraints and a shortage of medical professionals. Meeting the diverse needs of a vast population with limited means often compromises patient safety and healthcare providers’ working conditions, exacerbating potential patient-provider conflicts.

A practical and effective step to help patients and their families navigate the healthcare system for appropriate care would be to establish a central referral system and digital bed vacancy monitoring – demands 3 and 4 of the junior doctors.

A central referral system would streamline patient flow towards appropriate hospitals and specialists, while a digital bed vacancy monitoring system would provide real-time information about the availability of beds in facilities. These systems could efficiently narrow the gap between demand and supply, enhance service delivery, prevent life-threatening delays and foster trust between providers and patients.

The recent launch of the pilot project for the central referral system by the West Bengal government in the South 24 Parganas marks a positive first step.

Debolina Biswas is an assistant professor of economics at a college affiliated with the University of Calcutta. Soumava Basu earned his PhD in economics from the University of Utah and is now a researcher in the US. The views of the authors do not represent the position of their affiliated institutions.

*This data is accessed from Health on the March, a report published annually by the West Bengal health department that offers detailed data and insight into the state’s health system. It covers health outcomes, financing, infrastructure utilisation and policy developments. However, the last published report is for 2018. Even though it may not reflect the exact present scenario, we use it to get a broad idea of the state of healthcare in West Bengal.

On the other hand, the recent trend is available in Health Dynamics of India 2022-23, a publication by the Union government. However, this report focuses heavily on primary healthcare facilities and does not give an idea of crucial indicators such as the population per bed, the referral percentage, etc. In the absence of current data, this article takes data from the last available publication, i.e. Health on the March 2018.

However, data related to the population per bed, the bed occupancy ratio and the referred percentage are taken for 2016, as in the 2017 data, the bed occupancy ratio appeared to be zero for the SSKM hospital, which seems to be erroneous. All other indicators are chosen from 2016 data for parity purposes.

In Bengal, Amit Shah Once Again Brings up ‘Infiltration From Bangladesh’

Earlier, in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal, Shah had compared Bangladeshi immigrants to “termites”.

New Delhi: During his first visit to West Bengal after the BJP lost the majority of Lok Sabha seats it contested in the state, Union home minister Amit Shah claimed that “infiltration from Bangladesh” was disrupting peace in Bengal.

“Bring change to Bengal in 2026 (when Assembly polls are due)…(A BJP-led state government) will end infiltration and ensure peace in the state,” said Shah, reported The Telegraph.

“When there is no opportunity for legal (trans-border) movement of people… illegitimate methods of movement arise, which impacts the peace of the nation.… There can be peace in Bengal only after infiltration stops,” Shah added.

Earlier, in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal, Shah had compared Bangladeshi immigrants to “termites” and had claimed that the BJP will win 35 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state.

However, despite its polarising narrative, the saffron party could win only 12 seats, lesser than its 2019 tally of 18 seats.

Shah made the comments on Sunday (October 27) at Petrapole, which is a port on the Bangladesh border, where the Union home minister inaugurated a new passenger terminal and a cargo gate.

In September this year, Bangladesh had lodged a protest note with India over comments made by Shah regarding Bangladeshi nationals during a rally in Jharkhand.

Shah had accused the Hemant Soren government of allowing migrants – whom he called “infiltrators” – to take over the state at a rally in Shahganj. Jharkhand is set to hold assembly elections later this year.

“Infiltrators are the vote bank of Lalu Prasad’s RJD [Rashtriya Janata Dal], Rahul baba‘s [Rahul Gandhi] Congress and chief minister Hemant Soren’s Jharkhand Mukti Morcha. I promise to drive out illegal immigrants. The time has come to show the corrupt JMM dispensation the exit door…We want to change Jharkhand,” he had said.

Top BJP leaders have often been accused of using the “infiltration” narrative before elections for polarisation.

At a rally in Jharkhand’s Hazaribagh on Gandhi Jayanti, October 2, Prime Minister Narendra Modi claimed that the population of Hindus and Adivasis is declining and that of “Bangladeshi infiltrators” is increasing under the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha government.

Jharkhand is slated to go for assembly polls later this year.

 

Cyclone Dana Expected to Make Landfall by Early Friday, 3 lakh People Evacuated in Odisha

Flight operations at the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar will remain suspended for 16 hours from Thursday (October 23) evening.

New Delhi: As cyclone Dana inches closer to Odisha and neighbouring West Bengal with landfall expected on early Friday (October 25), both the states have stepped up evacuation of people from the areas where the cyclone is expected to have maximum impact.

More than 1.14 lakh people in West Bengal have been evacuated, said government officials, Hindustan Times reported.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has said that 3 lakh people out of the targeted 10 lakh people have been evacuated so far in the state till Wednesday (October 23) evening.

“The severe cyclonic storm “DANA” (pronounced as Dana) over central & adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal moved north-northwestwards with a speed of 12 kmph during past 6 hours, and lay centred at 0530 hrs IST of today, the 24th October, over northwest & adjoining central Bay of Bengal, near latitude 18.5° N and longitude 88.2°E, about 260 km southeast of Paradip (Odisha), 290 km south-southeast of Dhamara (Odisha) and 350 km south of Sagar Island (West Bengal),” The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) posted on X on Thursday (October 24) morning.

“It is very likely to move northwestwards and cross north Odisha and West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island close to Bhitarkanika and Dhamara (Odisha) during mid-night of 24th to morning of 25th October, 2024 as a severe Cyclonic Storm with a wind speed of 100-110 kmph gusting 120 kmph,” the IMD added.

Bhubaneswar airport suspends flight operations for 16 hours

Flight operations at the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar will remain suspended for 16 hours from Thursday (October 23) evening.

Meanwhile, several districts of West Bengal received moderate to heavy rain on Thursday (October 24) morning. The cyclone is expected to result in heavy rainfall in several districts of south Bengal including Kolkata.

Very heavy rainfall with extremely heavy downpour in south Bengal districts of North and South 24 Parganas, Purba and Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, Kolkata, Howrah and Hooghly districts on October 24 and 24 is expected, said the Met Department, reported the Press Trust of India.

The eastern and south eastern railways have cancelled several trains in wake of the cyclone.

Odisha government forms teams to rescue crocodiles, snakes

The predicted landfall near Bhitarkanika in Odisha which is the second-largest mangrove ecosystem after the Sundarbans, forest officials suspect that crocodiles can move to human settlements with the increase in water level.

“If the water level increases, there are chances that the crocodiles may move to human settlements. We have formed two teams, each comprising seven persons, and provided them equipment to rescue crocodiles. Five other teams have also been formed for rescue of snakes from human habitations,” said Sudarshan Gopinath Jadhav, DFO, mangrove wildlife division, Rajnagar, reported The Indian Express.

The Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak and Balasore districts in Odisha are expected to face the maximum impact of the cyclone.

“The state has identified over 3,000 vulnerable locations (villages) across 14 districts, primarily along the coastal belt, and started evacuation procedures. As many as 10,60,336 people are likely to be evacuated before Cyclone Dana makes landfall,” Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said.

The Demise of Kolkata’s Trams: A Misguided Step Backwards in the History of Urban Transportation

The phasing out of Kolkata’s tram network raises questions about our approach to sustainable urban development.

As news of the impending closure of Kolkata’s tram network spreads, headlines are awash with calls to preserve this piece of heritage and expressions of nostalgia for a mode of transport deeply woven into the city’s cultural fabric.

While these sentiments are understandable and indeed valuable, they obscure a far more pressing concern: the critical need for low-cost, sustainable, and efficient modes of transport in our rapidly evolving urban landscapes, in which tram could be a viable alternative, if revitalised and modernised.

In recent decades, we’ve witnessed our cities expand at an unprecedented rate, driven by neoliberal economic policies that have reshaped India’s urban centres. Despite the construction of wider roads and numerous flyovers, the problem of traffic congestion persists, seemingly intractable.

Concurrently, we’ve seen an alarming rise in greenhouse gas emissions, increased heat-trapping due to rampant concretisation, a significant reduction in green cover, and a surge in the use of fossil fuel-powered vehicles, in which tram could be a viable alternative.

The response to these challenges has been puzzling at best. Cities have invested heavily in glamorous metro projects, which, while impressive, come at a cost far exceeding that of tram networks. More recently, there’s been a push towards electric vehicles and buses. Yet, in this rush towards perceived modernity, we seem to have forgotten the efficient, eco-friendly transport solution that has served Kolkata for over a century.

The administrative authorities of West Bengal claim that trams cause unnecessary congestion on roads that are increasingly difficult to manage. However, this assertion lacks empirical support. No comprehensive study has been conducted to substantiate this claim. Instead of seeking evidence-based solutions, it appears decision-makers are acting on assumptions and perhaps, other unstated motivations.

Trams have emerged as eco-friendly mode of transport abroad

Contrast this with our neighbouring country, China, where at least 25 cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, operate tram networks. The Beijing tram network was closed down in 1960s but have been revived again in last decade as an eco-friendly cheap mode of transport and is being used for last-mile connectivity along with subway network.

The Shanghai tram network was also closed down in 1975 but have been reinitiated again in the face of increasing fossil-fuel consumption and rising operational costs of fossil-fuel based vehicles. The century-old tram network of Hong Kong has not only survived but has also modernised and serves an extensive area of the city. These cities, unlike European cities, are as much populous as any other Indian cities. Notably, the majority of these networks were established in the last decade.

Cities across Japan and Europe have not only maintained but expanded and modernised their tram systems. This global trend stands in stark contrast to the gradual decline we’ve witnessed in Kolkata. The notion that trams are merely a relic of the past, suitable only for nostalgia or heritage preservation, is deeply misguided, even when considering the needs of a fast-paced, capitalist city.

Introduced in 1902, electric trams were once hailed as a force of modernisation. Over the next six decades, they evolved into not just the most widely used transport system in the city, but also a site of intense labour-capital conflict.

Tram workers, considered the vanguard of the working class by Communist Party organisers, were at the forefront of every significant social and political movement. From resisting the Simon Commission to participating in the Quit India movement, from leading food movements in the post-colonial period to forming anti-riot squads during the tumultuous events of 1946, the tram workers played a crucial role in shaping the city’s history.

CTC used to be a private British corporation registered at London then. Over intense pressure from working-class movement with demands of sustainable wages, modernisation of fixed capital and technology, the British owner eventually gave in and the Government of West Bengal took over the operations in 1967.

Decline of tram in Kolkata

However, the decline of this once-vital system has been long in the making. In order to maximise profits, the British management stopped investing in the tram networks which was required to improve its efficiency and even to improve the wages of workers. But this trend did not end there. A 1972 report by the Calcutta Metropolitan Planning Organisation (CMPO) revealed a decrease in daily tram ridership from 950,000 in 1965 to 741,000 in 1971.

Despite this decline, the CMPO, established at the behest of the Ford Foundation, emphasised the essential role of trams in the city’s functioning. At the same time, it was observed by NEERI (National Environmental Engineering Research Institute) that there was alarming rise in carbon monoxide levels in the city air dur to increase in running of diesel buses.

The Route Rationalisation Committee, framed by CMDA (Calcutta Metropolitan Development Authority) on these reports, recommended continuing and even enhancing tram services on reserved tracks while phasing them out from extremely congested corridors. They also found that operational costs of trams were 43 paisa less per kilometre than diesel buses in 1972.

These recommendations, however, fell on deaf ears. Instead of revitalisation, we’ve witnessed a systematic dismantling of the tram network. Investments have dwindled, tracks and cars have not been modernized, and the workforce has been increasingly casualised, with contractual employees often paid below minimum wage replacing permanent staff.

The efforts in modernisation were miniscule. For a long period, the tracks and electricity distribution system was not modernised. The last time a series of trams were bought by the CTC was in 1984, the coaches were built by Jessop and Co. Since then, no new fleet were added to service, apart from a few fleets in 2012, but those were minimal in numbers. Since 2012, the trams have seen a steady decline in operational frequency and passengers. Investments were significantly cut down and routes were shut down.

The question arises: who is to blame for this state of affairs? While some point fingers at real estate speculators eyeing valuable depot lands, the issue runs deeper. Over the past three to four decades, particularly since the advent of neoliberalisation, urban planning has increasingly catered to car owners.

New development models ignore toiling class

New flyovers sprout up while bus services dwindle and trams face extinction. A new middle class, more accustomed to private vehicles than public transport, has emerged. The only public transport projects that receive attention are the glossy metro systems, showcased as beacons of ‘developing India’ to the world.

But we must ask: whose development does this model serve? Does this car-centric approach to city planning include the majority of the population, particularly the toiling classes living in marginalised areas? The answer, clearly, is no. Yet city planners, potentially influenced by the automobile industry, seem unconcerned as long as car sales continue to rise.

Tram service could have been modernised

A recent report by TERI, New Delhi, offers a glimmer of hope and a roadmap for what could have been. It suggests that Kolkata could increase tram ridership through modernisation and expansion. Current issues of low speeds and maintenance problems are attributed to years of neglect, not inherent flaws in the system.

The report recommends upgrading brake systems to increase speed, introducing catenary-free trams with advanced technology, and implementing smart traffic management systems. Restoring dedicated tram corridors could improve safety and reduce congestion. Moreover, incentivising tram use through subsidised ticket prices and stricter parking regulations for private vehicles could make trams more competitive with other modes of transport.

As we witness the trams being relegated to the shadowy corners of depots, making way for more private vehicles, we must recognise this as symptomatic of a larger issue. It represents a desire to push the working class to the margins, prioritizing a glossy facelift for the city over inclusive and sustainable development.

The phasing out of Kolkata’s tram network represents more than the loss of a historic transport mode or a piece of heritage. It raises questions about our approach to sustainable urban development. Perhaps it’s time to reconsider our urban planning priorities and explore ways to enhance public transportation systems that can benefit a wide range of citizens.

While the trams may soon be absent from Kolkata’s streets, this change could serve as an opportunity to reflect on how we address the needs of all urban residents, including working-class communities. This transition might encourage us to envision and work towards creating cities that emphasize inclusivity, sustainability, and accessibility for everyone.

The writer is a research scholar of History in Ambedkar University, Delhi.

Mithun Chakraborty to Receive Prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award

The award will be presented to Chakraborty at the 70th National film awards ceremony on October 8.

New Delhi: Veteran actor-politician Mithun Chakraborty has been selected for India’s highest film honour, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, for his contribution to Indian cinema. Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw made the announcement on X on Monday (September 30), praising Chakraborty’s remarkable journey that spans decades.

“Honoured to announce that the Dadasaheb Phalke Selection Jury has decided to award legendary actor, Sh. Mithun Chakraborty Ji for his iconic contribution to Indian Cinema,” Vaishnaw wrote.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Chakraborty a “cultural icon” and congratulated him for the award.

Reacting to the news, Chakraborty expressed his gratitude, dedicating the award to his family and fans worldwide.

“I don’t have words. Neither I can laugh nor cry. This is such a big thing… I could not have imagined this. I am extremely happy. I dedicate this to my family and my fans across the world,” Chakraborty told ANI.

Chakraborty’s impressive filmography includes his debut film Mrigayaa (1976), for which he won the National film award for best actor. He went on to deliver blockbuster hits like Disco Dancer (1982) and Agneepath (1990), cementing his status as a household name. His other notable films include Kasam Paida Karne Wale Ki (1984) and Pyar Jhukta Nahin (1985). He also holds a record in the Limca Book of Records for releasing 19 films in 1989.

Also read: With Its Sensitivity and Craft, UK’s Oscar Entry ‘Santosh’ Punches Above Its Weight

The award will be presented to Chakraborty at the 70th National film awards ceremony on October 8.

Chakraborty’s foray into politics began in 2014 when he was nominated by West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee to contest the Rajya Sabha elections as a member of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC). He served as a Member of Parliament until his resignation on December 26, 2016.

Chakraborty later shifted his allegiance to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), joining the saffron party on March 7, 2021, ahead of the West Bengal legislative assembly election.

The R.G. Kar Protests Conquered Fear. But Have They Done Much Else?

The junior doctors, full of idealism and fire but with no experience in politics, were no match for an astute and crafty politician like Mamata Banerjee who knows pretty well how to play with public sentiment and to turn adverse situations to her advantage.

For 42 days, junior doctors of Kolkata agitated, weathering sweltering heat and pouring rains. Others spent sleepless nights on streets trying to reclaim the nights, and raising their united voice against the endemic corruption that defines the Bengal regime. 

For the first time in living memory, Kolkata witnessed human chains running over many miles – a mark of unity and resolve. Protesters’ voices grew louder and gathered strength. Otherwise apathetic citizens – young and old alike – came out on the streets in the thousands demanding changes.

It was a surreal moment pregnant with the potential to usher in real change. But the moment has passed and its possibilities have dissipated. The doctors were finally exhausted by the very politics that they so carefully tried to keep at bay. All the levers of the corrupt system were left in place, unchanged, only a few officials were moved without any punitive action, to make sure the agitating doctors returned to work. The regime has  conceded nothing.

In civil service, transfers are routine, and it is a time-tested technique to replace frontline officials when they face people’s wrath to diffuse a situation and douse public anger. It would take no time before the new faces start looking identical to the ones they have replaced. The perpetuation of an old, corrupt and decrepit system continues.

Illustration: Pariplab Chakraborty.

Indeed, the young junior doctors, full of idealism and fire but with no experience in politics, were no match for an astute and crafty politician like Mamata Banerjee who knows pretty well how to play with public sentiment and to turn adverse situations to her advantage. She has survived Sarada, Narada, the massive teacher recruitment scam and even Sandeshkhali, having emerged stronger after every passing blot. 

The agitating doctors had possibly thought that it only required popular support, which they had aplenty, to sustain a people’s movement and that politics would distract and divert the spirit of the movement while only allowing some political party to gain. They wanted to retain unfiltered the spirit of their movement, which was against the large scale corruption which has permeated every nook and corner of West Bengal’s healthcare system for many years now, right from appointment to admission to examination to financial management, and against the overwhelming power of a coterie close to administration sustained by a pervading threat culture in state-run medical colleges.

In their idealism, they failed to appreciate that only politics can bring change in a stable democratic society like ours, even with all its flaws, and that the Bangladesh model simply does not apply to India. If they doubted the intent of the existing political parties, not without valid reasons, they should have formed or facilitated the formation of a new political outfit, drawing lessons from how the Aam Aadmi Party had sprung up from Anna Hazare’s movement against corruption – even there, the leaders at the vanguard of that fledgling party were inexperienced in politics, but that did not prevent them from tasting electoral success, riding piggyback on public anger and disenchantment against the existing regime. It could have been a similar story in Bengal also.

A pragmatic approach for the opposition too could have been to bury their differences and agree to a common agenda with the agitating doctors till an election could be forced, but it was not to be. Banerjee knew that the agitation would fizzle away.

Also read: A Non-Political Movement Is Uncharted Territory for Mamata Banerjee

While the doctors have asserted that if the assurances and promises made by the government remained unfulfilled, they would restart their agitation, they also know that the moment that offered them the opportunity for achieving justice has receded forever. They had decided collectively in favour of the partial resumption of services, assured by the directives of the government to ensure the safety and security of healthcare workers and the efficient functioning of the public healthcare system. If they really believed, even for an instance, that these directives and other cosmetic measures that the administration has implemented will cure the healthcare system of its ills and end its corruption, they will only be fooling themselves. 

Indeed, what can be said with certainty is that the administration will lie low for some time while making it appear as if corrective steps are being implemented in sincerity and even thanking the agitating doctors for bringing all this to their notice, as if, hitherto, they were blissfully unaware of all this. But make no mistake, once the heat dissipates away, the system will strike back ruthlessly, hounding out the leaders of the agitation, penalising the intransigent ones and favouring the pliable ones. Every channel of corruption is a funnel that serves politicians. After all, elections have to be fought and won, and they need money. 

A protest in the aftermath of the RG Kar brutality in Kolkata. Photo: X/@MinakshiMukher8

But it would be wrong to surmise that the movement had achieved nothing.

It is true that the agitating doctors’ demand for justice remains unfulfilled. In fact, in this there was a disconnect from the very beginning. Justice is delivered not by politicians or the regime, but by the judiciary, and the judiciary delivers justice based only on available evidence. Going by reports, much of it has already been erased, putting serious hurdles before the CBI’s investigation. The arm of the law now may not be long enough to reach the real culprits behind the sordid acts, and justice may remain as elusive as ever, despite the cries of a million voices demanding the same. 

Banerjee has been in office since 2011, propped by her smart social alliances and freebie policies directed at women. But for a time, it even seemed that all her mastery of manipulative politics was inadequate to douse people’s rising anger against her regime. The doctors may not have achieved justice, but they have found the courage not to fear their tormentors any longer. 

At long last, the people of Bengal, at least urban Bengal – the rural areas may take longer still – have also overcome their fear. As the nights in the city deepened, and the glow of the torches held by protesters – symbolising hope and determination – continued to shine in the backdrop of grief, outrage and a depressing sense of defeat, one remembered the words that Faiz Ahmad Faiz wrote almost half a century ago,

Jab zulm-o-sitam ke koh-e-garan
Rooi ki tarah ur jaenge
Hum mehkoomon ke paaon tale
Ye dharti dhar dhar dharkegi
Aur ahl-e-hakam ke sar oopar
Jab bijli kar kar karkegi
Hum dekhenge

“When these mountains of tyranny and oppression will start blowing away like fluff, when this earth will tremble underneath our feet, when lighting will strike the heads of our ruler with thunderous roar, we shall be there to see.”

Govind Bhattacharjee is former Director General at the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. He is a commentator, author and academic. Opinions expressed are personal.

Homes Submerged, People Wait in Relief Camps as Floods Ravage More Than 50 Villages in Bengal

The relentless flooding from the Ganges and Fulhar rivers has particularly affected three panchayats in the Manikchak block of Malda district.

Bhutni (West Bengal): More than 50 villages in Malda district have remained submerged for over a month as a result of the West Bengal floods, affecting over three lakh people and plunging the area into crisis.

The relentless flooding from the Ganges and Fulhar rivers has particularly impacted three panchayats in the Manikchak block of Malda – Uttar Chandipur, Dakshin Chandipur, and Hiranandapur.

Largely unreported in mainstream media, the disaster has caused tragic deaths, including those from snakebites, electric shocks, and the lack of medical care for a pregnant woman. Severe food shortages and skyrocketing prices have left residents struggling for survival. Locals say they haven’t witnessed such catastrophic flooding since 1998.

Bhutni islet, situated between the mighty Ganges and Fulhar rivers, is vulnerable to flooding. The Kosi river, which connects the two larger rivers, has contributed to the increased flooding risk. As the Ganges river has widened over time, the gap between it and the Fulhar River has narrowed, making Bhutni islet more susceptible to inundation.

A raft supplying food to the relief camps in the flood affected region. Photo: Joydeep Sarkar

The recent floods have destroyed homes and livelihoods, especially affecting farmers who have lost their crops and belongings. While local authorities have provided some relief materials, the scale of the disaster has forced residents to resort to extreme measures for survival.

Villages submerged, people living in government shelters

“We’ve been living in a government shelter with a tarpaulin for cover, enduring stormy weather and floodwaters for a month. Our paddy and jute crops have rotted. Who will compensate us?” said Jugal Mahato, whose home remains submerged.

Alamgir Khan, also known as Rancho, from Kaliachak, has been running community kitchens in the region for over a month through his voluntary organisation.

“We rescued stranded families by boat. Many homes were flooded, but people were reluctant to leave. We’ve been providing food day and night, and three kitchens are still running,” he said.

Government shelters in the flood-affected regions of Malda district. Photo: Joydeep Sarkar

The government’s efforts to restore normalcy in the flood-affected region have been hindered by persistent flooding and erosion. As water levels gradually subside, concerns arise about the long-term consequences of the disaster and the necessity for comprehensive rehabilitation plans.

A report published in The Wire in December last year highlighted locals’ apprehensions about an impending disaster.

“In December last year, The Wire reported that if the river embankment broke and the water level in the river rose, there would be a major disaster. If the government had repaired the broken embankment at two places for a few lakhs of rupees in nine months, this disaster would not have happened!” said Debjyoti Sinha, a volunteer engaged in relief work.

“Losses in hundreds of crores”

“We’ve initially estimated losses in hundreds of crores rupees. A government assessment is underway. Such a flood hasn’t occurred in over two decades, and this year’s jute and paddy cultivation was particularly good – but now it’s all gone,” said Sabina Yasmin, Minister of State for North Bengal Development and Irrigation & Waterways.

While the government is claiming the relief efforts are “adequate”, there are allegations of theft and mismanagement. Criticism has also been directed at the central government.

“They once promised to protect a 120-kilometer embankment but have now reduced it to 9 kilometers. This has only worsened the situation,” said TMC Panchayat member Imran Hasan.

Food being prepared in a relief camp. Photo: Joydeep Sarkar

Local resident Kalam Sheikh echoed the sentiment, urging the central government to declare the situation a national disaster and calling for modern technology to repair the embankment.

“The government is doing so much publicity in the name of Namami Gange, but the embankment should be repaired here according to modern technology, because the Ganges is advancing towards Malda every year due to the collision with the rocks of Rajmahal hills in the Santhal Pargana on the other side. This should be identified as a national disaster and the central government should start work!” said local resident Kalam Sheikh.

Translated from the Bengali original by Aparna Bhattacharya.

West Bengal Governor’s Public Criticism of Mamata ‘Shameless, Irresponsible’: Satya Pal Malik

Satya Pal Malik said C.V. Ananda Bose spoke in this fashion to please the Modi government in Delhi.

New Delhi: In forceful and outspoken criticism of West Bengal governor C.V. Ananda Bose’s public criticism of chief minister Mamata Banerjee released in a video last week, the former governor of Jammu and Kashmir and Bihar has said it was “shameless and irresponsible”.

Satya Pal Malik said Ananda Bose has spoken in this fashion to please the Modi government in Delhi and also in imitation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, who, as governor of West Bengal, had been publicly critical of Banerjee and ended up getting promoted to vice president.

Malik said Ananda Bose is hoping for similar “tarakki”.

In a 20-minute interview to Karan Thapar for The Wire, Malik, who also served as governor of Goa and Meghalaya, said Ananda Bose should have been immediately removed, i.e. within 24 hours. He said Ananda Bose has diminished the authority and standing of the office of governor.

Speaking about what Ananda Bose said about Kolkata’s former commissioner of police, who he accused of “actively conniving in erasing the evidence” of the murder and rape at the R.G. Kar Hospital, adding “criminal action needs to be initiated against the commissioner of police”, Malik said that the former commissioner should take legal action for libel against the West Bengal governor.

When asked if he was himself worried that the West Bengal governor could take legal action against him for the comments he has made, Malik said he would welcome such action because it would give him a chance to say the same things in open court.

West Bengal: Tribal Women Assaulted, Stripped, Tied Up and Beaten to Death on Witchcraft Suspicion

“The village leader, Laxmiram, came and took my mother from our home. We had no idea what my mother had done wrong. Later, we heard that they had killed her. Now we are scared that they might kill us too,” said Rani Kisku, one of the victim’s daughter.

Kolkata: In a shocking incident in Harisara village in Birbhum district, West Bengal, two tribal women were beaten to death on suspicion of practicing witchcraft. Their bodies were recovered from a nearby canal a day after the attack, which took place on Friday (September 13), just a day before the Karam Puja — a festival where tribal communities pray to nature for a bountiful harvest.

A partial video of the attack, filmed by one of the assailants, shows women being stripped naked and repeatedly beaten with sticks until they succumb to their injuries. The victims were identified as Lodgi Kisku, 54, and Dolly Soren, 40.

Lodgi Kisku’s family has accused Laxmiram Kisku, a local village leader, of forcibly taking her from their home and inciting the villagers to attack her. Dolly Soren, from a neighbouring village, had come to visit Lodgi when she, too, became a target of the violence.

“The village leader, Laxmiram, came and took my mother from our home. We had no idea what my mother had done wrong. Later, we heard that they had killed her. Now we are scared that they might kill us too,” said Rani Kisku, Lodgi’s daughter.

“My husband is a ‘Devanshi‘ (self-proclaimed spiritual leader). He was asleep when my child fainted after seeing Lodgi. Lodgi said she would drink everyone’s blood. After hearing my cries, everyone dragged Lodgi away. She was a demon and had harmed many people in our village. The entire village killed her,” claimed Laxmiram’s wife. 

Also read: ‘Weapon’ of ‘Unconventional Warfare’: What the UP Court Said While Convicting 16 in Mass Conversion Case

Several women from the village echoed these sentiments, alleging that the two victims were known for practicing witchcraft. “They were believed to harm others through their rituals,” said Sharmila Kisku, a villager.

The two women were brutally assaulted, stripped, tied up, and beaten. After they died, their bodies were desecrated and dumped in the irrigation canal. Multiple villagers, both men and women, were reportedly involved in the attack.

Harisara village under Mayureswar police station area. Photo: Arranged by the author

Despite efforts to modernise and educate, superstitions linked to witchcraft persist among some tribal communities. Such violence has been reported several times in Birbhum in recent years, with women often being killed or driven from their homes after being accused of witchcraft. Villages near Shantiniketan have seen families displaced, and their homes taken over, in the name of witch-hunts — a growing trend in certain tribal areas.

Also read: Justice, a Gender Audit, Mamata’s Resignation: Who Is Asking for What in the R.G. Kar Protests

The region where the incident occurred, under the Mayureswar police station, has long been an organisational stronghold of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). For decades, Hindutva groups have actively worked here, reportedly using practices like witchcraft to spread influence among tribal populations. Organisations like the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram and Saraswati Shishu Mandir, along with various NGOs, have been expanding their reach in the area for over 30 years.

“This kind of violence wasn’t common before, but now Hindu practices like yajnas and worship rituals are increasingly prevalent in these areas. The political motives behind this are clear. How can tribal communities get justice for such brutal killings when the real decision-making happens elsewhere?” said Sufal Murmu, a leader of the local Adivasi Rights Forum.

“There is no such thing as ‘Devanshi.’ It’s unfortunate that these things are not being stopped in the villages,” said Dhirendra Nath Bandopadhyay, a leader of the local Trinamool Congress.

The police have launched an investigation and have detained 15 people so far.

Translated from the Bengali original by Aparna Bhattacharya. 

In the Interest of People, I’m Willing to Resign, Says Mamata Banerjee Amid R.G. Kar Protests

 “The protesting doctors have political agenda,” the chief minister added while speaking to media persons.

New Delhi: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday (September 12) said she is “willing to resign” after a meeting between her and junior doctors protesting over the R.G. Kar hospital impasse failed to materialise.

“In the interest of people, I’m willing to resign,” Banerjee said speaking to media persons.

“The protesting doctors have political agenda,” the chief minister added while addressing the Bangla media.

Several videos circulated on social media showed Banerjee waiting in an empty hall for meeting the protesting junior doctors. The meeting was scheduled for 5 pm today. However, the doctors refused to budge on their demand for a live streamed discussion of the negotiations to break the deadlock.

News agency PTI reported that the junior doctors, who have been protesting for several days, arrived 25 minutes late at the designated meeting venue and remained at the gate for over an hour. Despite discussions between senior officials, including director general of police Rajeev Kumar, assistant director general Supratim Sarkar, and chief secretary Manoj Pant and the doctors’ delegation, the doctors were not convinced and remained firm, leading to a standoff.

Also read: Beyond Chai and Biscuits: A Movement of Solidarity Emerges in Protest of RG Kar Tragedy

The state government had offered to record the meeting instead of live streaming it, citing the sensitive nature of the sub-judice R.G. Kar rape-murder case.

“We had conveyed in our letter that live streaming will not be possible but had given our assurances that we would have the whole session recorded for documentation and posterity. The chief minister is waiting for them for the last hour and half. There should be a limit to such demands. We have tried to convince the doctors but they have still not accepted. We request them to consider attending this meeting,” chief secretary Pant was quoted as saying by PTI.