Overview

• West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced salary increases for government doctors, including a ₹10,000 stipend hike for interns and postgraduate trainees and ₹15,000 for senior resident doctors.
• The announcement comes six months after the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College, which sparked national outrage and ongoing protests for justice.
• Banerjee emphasized stricter hospital security, including appointing ex-servicemen, expanding police surveillance, and installing watch towers to prevent future crimes.
• The state government introduced the Aparajita Bill, proposing capital punishment for rape convicts, as part of its response to the RG Kar case.
• While some doctors welcomed the salary hikes, others expressed disappointment, citing unresolved issues like corruption, recruitment transparency, and workplace grievances.