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Assam's Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH) has cancelled an advisory asking women doctors, students and staff to avoid going out in sparsely populated areas at night amid massive backlash. The advisory was issued amid a nationwide outrage over the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
A tweet by the Assam Chief Minister's Office said the advisory, issued on August 12, was cancelled. "A new advisory will be issued in this regard soon, following NMC (National Medical Commission) norms and government directives," the CMO tweeted.
The advisory, signed by the institute's principal Dr Bhaskar Gupta, asked female staff against venturing out of the campus late at night or at unusual hours.
"Female doctors, students and staff should, as far as possible, avoid situations where they are alone. Avoid going out of hostels or lodging rooms at night unless it is absolutely necessary and inform the concerned authority in advance," the advisory, signed by the institute's principal Dr Bhaskar Gupta, said.
The advisory also suggested women doctors and students avoid "associating with strangers or persons of suspicious nature".
"All hostel residents should follow the hostel rules and administrative regulations made by the institute. Always keep a means of contact available in case of any emergency," the advisory said.
"While on duty, you must remain mentally calm, alert and aware of your surroundings, and interact with people respectfully, so that you do not become a victim of any undue attention," it further said.
The authorities said any issue or complaint should be immediately reported to the chairperson/members of the gender harassment committee, discipline committee, internal complaint committee, and anti-ragging committee.
The advisory has come under severe criticism from students as well as on social media, with many calling it "misogynistic". The students said the authorities should improve the security arrangements on the campus instead of telling them to stay in their rooms.
The Junior Doctors' Association (JDS) of Silchar Medical College and Hospital also condemned the advisory, calling it disturbing. The body also issued a notice, demanding proper lighting in the hospital, enhanced security measures, dedicated washroom facilities and security outside rooms of doctors.
