The brutal assault on a resident doctor in Kolkata has sent shockwaves across the nation raising questions about systemic negligence

In 1973, Aruna Shanbaug, a 25-year-old nurse at Mumbai’s KEM Hospital, was brutally assaulted—raped and strangled with a metal dog chain—which left her in a vegetative state for the next 43 years. Five decades later, history has repeated itself with the horrific rape and murder of a 31-year-old resident doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College. Both crimes occurred within hospital premises, underscoring the vulnerability of female medical staff in supposedly secure environments. The question is inevitable: has the state failed these women—and society—yet again?

The recent murder of the Kolkata doctor has sparked outrage across the nation. Protests by junior doctors have disrupted medical services, as they demand justice and action. While a "civic volunteer" was arrested, there is growing suspicion that more individuals were involved in this gruesome crime. What’s particularly alarming is that the assailant may have been a regular visitor to the hospital, raising the likelihood that he had prior interactions with the victim. The nature of her injuries, as revealed by the post-mortem report, suggests that this was not only an act of sexual violence but also one of intense personal vengeance.

Crimes of this brutality—especially those involving rape—are not isolated incidents in India. In 2022, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reported an average of 90 rapes per day. However, authorities acknowledge that the actual number could be much higher, as many rapes go unreported due to societal taboos. Unofficial estimates suggest that over 100 rapes occur daily in India, with a staggering 80% of them classified as brutal. Despite the shocking frequency of such attacks, society and the state have failed to address the root causes effectively.

The 1973 case of Aruna Shanbaug was a grim precursor to today’s epidemic of violence against women. After being raped and left for dead by a ward boy, she remained in a coma for 43 years, lovingly cared for by her colleagues. Her assailant, however, served only seven years in jail. Aruna’s case remained in the media spotlight for decades, yet no sweeping reforms were made to improve the safety of female medical staff. Hospitals like RG Kar Medical College continue to lack basic security protocols, leaving women vulnerable to heinous acts of violence.

Despite the public outcry that followed Aruna’s case, and the more recent protests in Kolkata, most state-run hospitals have not implemented adequate safety measures.

The issue of relying on “civic volunteers” instead of trained security personnel has long been a problem in government-run hospitals. These volunteers are often paid meager wages and supplement their income through unofficial means. Many have political affiliations, which give them a degree of immunity from disciplinary action.

Year after year, issues related to hospital safety—such as malfunctioning CCTV cameras, poorly lit areas, and inadequate security staff—are flagged but seldom addressed. These failures have made doctors, especially women, increasingly vulnerable to attacks. The horrific gang rape of a young woman in Delhi in 2012 led to promises of reforms, yet most of these remain unfulfilled. The Nirbhaya Fund, created in the aftermath of that tragedy to improve women’s safety, remains largely underutilized. Between 2013 and 2022, less than half of its allocation was spent. The gap between intention and outcome remains wide, and women continue to pay the price for this failure.

The implementation of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act of 2013 has been half-hearted at best. Women in the medical profession are especially vulnerable—not only to sexual assault but also to intimidation and violence from patients, hospital staff, colleagues, and even senior faculty. In many government hospitals, security is virtually non-existent in certain sections, leaving female staff, including doctors and nurses, at the mercy of anyone who wishes them harm.

There is a pressing need for the government to regulate security protocols in medical institutions across the country. Promises on paper are insufficient; action must follow. Hospitals must invest in safe lodging for female doctors, and legislation protecting doctors from violence must be passed without delay. The Supreme Court of India, in May 2023, criticized authorities for failing to ensure a secure workplace for women. Such failures are not just administrative oversights—they are a direct threat to the lives of women in the medical profession.

The case in Kolkata, where the city ironically ranked as the safest in India in 2024 according to NCRB data, exposes a troubling disconnect between official statistics and the grim reality on the ground. The tragic deaths of women like Aruna Shanbaug and the young doctor in Kolkata serve as stark reminders that much remains to be done to protect women in India. Their stories should not just be a cause for temporary outrage but a call to action for systemic change.

(The author is a freelance writer, views are personal)