An umbrella of organisations including Stree Mukti League, Disha Students’ Organisation, and Naujawan Bharat Sabha organised a protest demonstration raising concerns over increasing violence against women in the country, on the background of brutal rape and murder of the female doctor in Kolkata, at People’s Plaza near Hussain Sagar, on Sunday, August 18.
The protest which saw a large participation of students, doctors, social activists and citizens of Hyderabad demanded justice for the victim, severe punishment for the culprits. The protest also highlighted the role of capitalist patriarchy, which the protestors say, enables unsafe environments in the streets, workplaces, classrooms, even in their own houses for women.
The protesting activists highlighted the incidents of crime that are coming into light everyday, including a nurse getting raped and murdered while returning from work in Uttarakhand, the gangrape and murder of a class 9 dalit student studying in Bihar, and many more incidents of crimes against women and the abusers getting away with legal and political power.
The protesting doctors alleged that health services of not truly providing universal health care, but rather focuses on exploiting doctors and medical staff to earn profit. Healthcare workers are often compelled to work for longer hours, without enough security nor facilities, while healthcare conglomerates earn hgh profits using healthcare workers’ services and expertise.
Expressing their anger against the government’s indifference and inaction towards the safety concerns faced by women, the protesting activists sang revolutionary songs and encouraged fellow women to rise up against all forms of exploitation and oppression.
