What is 'Ratri Sathi', Initiative Announced by Bengal Govt to Ensure Women Safety?

Kolkata: Following the protests triggered over the rape and murder of a trainee woman doctor at state-run RG Kar Medical College &amp; Hospital in Kolkata on August 9, the West Bengal government has announced some safety measures keeping in view the demands of doctors' body who went on a 24-hour strike that ended today at 6am. Among the steps announced by Mamata Banejee govt to ease and improve the working conditions of female doctors in hospitals include creating safe zones for women and separate rest areas with toilets, regulating duty hours, ensuring presence of women security personnel or volunteers and launching a mobile app called ‘Ratri Sathi’, which will help women in distress make a direct SOS call to the nearest police station.What is ‘Ratri Sathi' Initiative?The ‘Ratri Sathi' app which translates to night buddy, is a special security force comprising police personnel and private security guards, to ensure the safety and security of women working during night hours.The ‘Ratri Sathi’ app will provide them quick access to police in case they find themselves in danger.Besides, the women will not be asked to work during night hours wherever and as far as possible. Not only the government institutions but the private sector employers will also be asked to adhere to the ‘Ratri Sathi’ guidelines. The safety measures were announced by the CM’s chief advisor Alapan Bandyopadhyay following a meeting of Mamata Banerjee with chief secretary, home secretary and DGP over the how safety of woman doctors in hospitals.According to the state govt, the measures would be notified soon and will be implemented at the earliest.“The govt’s endeavour is to provide safe working conditions for women on night shifts in all state hospitals, medical colleges, hostels and other places,” Bandyopadhyay said.To refrain people in an inebriated state from entering these campuses, breath analyser tests will be carried out at entry gates.Also, wearing ID cards has been made mandatory for all staffers and faculty members to help cops identify outsiders and restrict them from accessing zones meant only for doctors and patients.Initially, the city police was probing the matter, however, after Calcutta High Court's intervention, the case was transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

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What is 'Ratri Sathi', Initiative Announced by Bengal Govt to Ensure Women Safety?

The ‘Ratri Sathi’ app will provide them quick access to police in case they find themselves in danger.

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