Amid ongoing protests at Swasthya Bhawan in Kolkata, decorators were seen dismantling tents, bamboos, and pedestal fans from the protest site of the junior doctors on Wednesday night. The removal has raised concerns among the protesters, who claim external pressure is being exerted to demoralize them.
Despite this, the junior doctors remain steadfast in their decision to continue their protest and cease-work movement. The decision came after a six-hour meeting with government officials on Wednesday night. Although the government provided verbal assurances, the doctors expressed their disappointment, stating that their demands were not formally included in the meeting minutes.
A junior doctor at the site expressed, “It could be an effort to demoralize us, but we would like to clearly say this—that for protest, we don’t need all this. If we want to protest, we can do it from anywhere and in any possible way.”
Another protester said, “While we appreciate the government’s verbal commitments, we remain hopeful for a written directive that formally acknowledges our demands. Until then, we will maintain our current course of action.”
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The government has taken steps to initiate dialogue, with the Chief Secretary requesting the West Bengal Junior Doctors Front (WBJDF) to nominate 4-5 junior doctors as representatives in the Task Force for further discussions. Additionally, the Chief Secretary urged the representatives to resume their duties immediately to ensure the seamless delivery of healthcare services to the state’s people.
The WBJDF began their sit-in protest outside Swasthya Bhawan on September 10, calling for attention to their demands. Following a meeting with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on September 16, the doctors expressed partial satisfaction but insisted on further dialogue.
A second round of talks took place with Chief Secretary Dr. Manoj Pant on September 18. However, the absence of a formal written commitment from the government has led the WBJDF to continue their cease-work protest.
Despite external pressures and verbal commitments from the government, the junior doctors’ protest remains firm. The healthcare professionals insist on a written directive that addresses their concerns to consider resuming their duties.
