Junior Doctors Call for Public Support with Signature Campaign
Junior doctors in Kolkata launch a public signature campaign to support their ten-point demands, inviting community involvement and solidarity. With ongoing hunger strikes highlighting their plight, this initiative aims to strengthen the connection between healthcare professionals and the public.
In a spirited effort to rally public backing, junior doctors in Kolkata have launched a “signature collection” initiative in support of their ten-point demands. The campaign will kick off from the hunger strike stage in Dharmatala this Thursday, shortly after noon, inviting the general public to lend their signatures to express solidarity with the doctors’ cause.
The decision to organise the campaign was made during a late-night meeting at Calcutta Medical College, where junior doctors deliberated on how best to engage with the community. The aim is clear: to inform the public about their demands and gather support directly from the people who are, after all, the end users of the healthcare system.
According to one of the activists, Arif Ahmed Laskar, “Many members of the public come to Dharmatala, but they often can’t interact directly with the protestors or those on hunger strike. We want to hear their voices. So, for those who visit, this is a chance to express their opinions and add their names to the cause.” With signature booths set up at four different points around Dharmatala, the campaign aims to create a direct connection with the community.
Standing Firm Amidst Hunger Strikes
Currently, seven junior doctors are on an indefinite hunger strike in Dharmatala, marking the thirteenth day of their protest. In a parallel effort, another junior doctor is also observing a hunger strike at North Bengal Medical College, reaching the eleventh day of his stand. Understandably, the prolonged fasting has taken its toll on their health, with many participants feeling increasingly frail. New participants, Rumelika Kumar and Spandan Chowdhury, joined the hunger strike on Tuesday, further showcasing the movement’s persistence.
Not to be outdone, the doctors are not resting on their laurels; plans are afoot for daily meetings to discuss new strategies and initiatives. In a cheeky twist, a poster circulating on social media announces a “night takeover” event scheduled for October 19 at the Jadavpur 8B bus stand, running from 8 PM to 8 AM. However, the poster is coyly vague on the identity of the organisers, leaving many to speculate about who will be running the show.
A Call to Action
This signature collection initiative is not merely a formality; it’s a call to action for the general public to show their support for the junior doctors’ ten demands, which range from better working conditions to improved patient care standards. As tensions rise and frustrations mount, the doctors are keen to ensure that the voices of the public are heard loud and clear in their fight for reform.
In these challenging times, when the health system is under immense pressure, this unique form of grassroots mobilisation could well be the turning point that not only bolsters the junior doctors’ cause but also revitalises public confidence in a healthcare system that needs all the support it can get. As the old saying goes, “every little helps,” and in this case, a signature might just pave the way for significant change.
With spirits high and determination unwavering, the junior doctors are putting their faith in the community to stand with them—because, after all, in the words of an old saying, “it’s better together than apart.”
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