Bengal Doctor Appeals for Crowdfunding: How Will He Raise Rs 30 Lakh for Government Bond?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Aniket Mahato is crowdfunding for a Rs 30 lakh government bond.
- His resignation follows a significant role in the RG Kar rape-murder case.
- He claims mental distress and inadequate support led to his decision.
- The Resident Doctors' Association is addressing the situation.
- A No Objection Certificate is pending until the bond is paid.
Kolkata, Jan 6 (NationPress) In a significant turn of events, junior doctor Aniket Mahato, a notable advocate for justice in the RG Kar rape-murder case, has announced his intention to withdraw from his Senior Resident (SR-ship) position. To manage the financial obligation of a government bond totaling Rs 30 lakh, he is now seeking help from the public.
After resigning from his role earlier today, Mahato shared a QR code on social media that links to his bank account details. This account is held at the Salt Lake branch of South Indian Bank. According to established guidelines, a government Senior Residency is a bonded position, and leaving it necessitates a financial penalty.
Speaking to the media, Aniket justified his crowdfunding initiative by stating, “I have stepped down from my position under the state government bond. Influenced by figures such as Vidyasagar, Vivekananda, Rabindranath, and Sarat Chandra, I am compelled to ask for your support. Paying this 30 lakh bond is beyond my financial capacity, and I hope for your assistance.”
On the same day, he addressed a letter to the state's Health Secretary, Director of Health Education, and Director of Health Services, expressing his grievances. In this letter, he mentioned, “I wasn’t given a timely appointment, resulting in a loss of my critical academic period. The mental distress I’ve endured has led me to reject the Senior Resident position.”
A state health department official remarked that medical students at government institutions are funded through taxpayer money, creating an obligation to serve in the districts. Failure to comply leads to compensation requirements. Notably, Dr. Mahato will not receive a 'No Objection Certificate' or clearance from the health department until the Rs 30 lakh bond is settled.
Meanwhile, the Resident Doctors' Association has convened a meeting to deliberate on this matter.
It is crucial to highlight that Aniket Mahato has been a leading figure in the protests by junior doctors in West Bengal following the horrific rape and murder of a female doctor from the R.G. Kar Medical College in Kolkata last August. Just last Thursday, he also resigned from his role as president of the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front (WBJDF), which has been at the forefront of the movement.
In his resignation letter to the board of trustees, Mahato expressed that despite the emotional weight of his decision, he felt compelled to resign.
While he did not specify the exact reasons for his departure in the letter, he hinted at his disappointment regarding certain decisions related to the executive committee's formation.