As Kolkata doctors agreed to resume emergency duties, following a 42-day protest over the rape-murder of a trainee at RG Kar Hospital and the handling of the case by the administration, the West Bengal government on Thursday issued directives to provide for safety, security and efficient functioning of healthcare professionals.
Following the Supreme Court’s directives, in a two-page communication, Chief Secretary Manoj Pant ordered deployment of adequate number of police/security personnel along with female police/security personnel in every healthcare facility in consultation with Home Department.
“It should also be ensured that mobile teams are on surveillance, specially during night time. It should be ensured that Centralized Helpline No. is implemented for ensuring safety and security of healthcare personnel. Such Helplines should also be made available in every healthcare facility as early as possible," the directions stated.
The key question, however, remains – Does the Kolkata and West Bengal Police have enough strength to provide this kind of security?
NUMBERSPEAK
Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, while answering a question in Parliament in 2023, had said that Bihar and Bengal have the lowest ratio of police personnel to per lakh population in the country at 75.16 and 97.66.
Are the deployments possible? An SP level officer told News18: “Implementing these ideas will require a huge amount of funds. Police handle law and order, crime, rallies, VIP protection and provide relief during natural disasters too. The same set of people are handling everything 24×7. Imagine the pressure on the OC officer in-charge of those thanas. Giving more security is not an issue, but are there more people to do that?"
THE PROMISES, PLANS
The Bengal government has issued an order proposing to engage an additional 1,514 security personnel on a contractual basis in government medical colleges and hospitals under a programme called ‘Rattirer Saathi – Helper at Night’. These personnel are proposed to be engaged by outsourcing through an agency nominated by the government for a period of one year. During the course of the Supreme Court hearing, serious reservations were expressed by the counsel appearing on behalf of the senior and junior resident doctors bearing in mind the background that the offence in the present case is alleged to have been committed by a civic volunteer who was contractually recruited.
The state government agreed to take appropriate policy decision after consulting all stakeholders. So it is clear that contractual staffers will not be encouraged.
Now the question is how can all this work will be done by police alone? Sources tell News18 that the Kolkata Police has around 30% of vacancy and Bengal Police also has a substantial percentage of vacancy. A senior officer told News18: “There is definitely manpower shortage. We manage things and run the show. If there is any problem, we are blamed. More force is definitely required in this situation."
THE POLICE DEPLOYMENT
The areas where police deployment is must:
- Maintaining law and order
- Rallies, meetings and traffic management
- Banks, vault, protection
- VIP protection
- Protection of institutions such as hospitals and university (from outside).
So far, there used to be only one police post at hospitals with five-six personnel, but now it is likely that this number may have to be increased.
Speaking to News18, a DC rank officer said, “According to the MHA SOP, women personnel can only record statements of victims of rape, molestation or POCSO. There are women thanas now which is good, but still the number of women officers is low. We have to bring women officers from one thana to another to record statements. Women in forces have increased, still, the number is not that high. By the time we come from other place and record the statement, the victim’s family may feel it is being delayed on purpose."
“Suppose an IO has to go to court, then for that day, we cannot make him work on anything else because it is time-consuming. Police force has to work in double shifts at times…There are a considerable number of civic volunteers, but you cannot use them for a lot of things."
‘NEED MORE MANPOWER, EQUIPMENT’: ISSUES & SOLUTIONS
Police reforms and more allocation in police budget can only give better results, according to an IG-level officer. “You have to equip police. That’s the need of the hour," he said.
“There is a flood situation in South Bengal, so all officers are busy with relief work. God forbid, if a law and order situation happens, it will be concerning," said another officer.
“Previously, in various ranks, training was provided for a long time, now the duration has been reduced," said a DIG-rank officer.
In Kolkata Police, promotion to the post of Assistant Commissioner of Police takes long, mostly after an officer crosses 50 years. Kolkata Police generally has fewer DSPs, who are recruited through the West Bengal Police Service.
Officers are also concerned that force will also need to be deployed for Durga Pujo.
“When all these responsibilities are imposed, police try their best. But when anything goes wrong, all criticism comes at us. People think police has failed, but one has to think why," said another DIG-level officer.
“Our personnel has even shopped for people during Covid, bought medicine for them, we have been on road combating the situation like doctors. A lot of our fellow workers died too. We want to work, but we need more manpower and equipment to give our best," he added.
The arrest of OC Tala has not gone down well with the police fraternity. New Police Commissioner Manoj Verma has already spoken to OC (Officer in-charge) and other officers and assured them that forces’ welfare will be given utmost importance. A large section of officers changed their DP the day he got arrested.
A senior police officer said, “Providing police everywhere will not solve the problem. We have to provide secured environment for all, so that nobody dares to do something wrong. It’s not a good idea to have one police behind one person."
CM Mamata Banerjee, too, had earlier said in a meeting, “Police will be there in wedding, football matches, press conference, everywhere? That’s not possible. The hospital authorities and agencies should be accountable for security."
“Overall, police and healthcare infrastructure development is the need of the hour. We need efficient policing," sum up officers.
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