Bengal Government announces host of measures to ensure safety of women at workplaces

West Bengal government introduces safety measures for women in workplaces, including designated rooms, CCTV-monitored zones, and mobile app for emergencies.

The West Bengal government on Saturday announced a slew of measures to ensure the safety of women in workplaces, particularly at state-run hospitals, where they have to work on night shifts, too, including designated retiring rooms and CCTV-monitored ‘safe zones’.

Chief Advisor to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Alapan Bandyopadhyay, announced the measures during a press meet here, amid continuing protests by doctors across the state against the alleged rape and murder of a medic at RG Kar hospital.

Also read: Kolkata doctor rape-murder case updates

Apart from hospitals and medical colleges, hostels and other places engaging women during night shifts will now come under the ambit of a flagship programme ‘Rattirer Sathi – Helpers of the Night', comprising volunteers, he said.

The state government has also decided to develop a mobile app with alarm devices, which can be downloaded by women and used for communication with the respective local police stations in case of any emergency.

Besides, employees, both in state and private establishments, will be encouraged to form two-member women teams at night to keep each other updated about their activities, Bandyopadhyay said.

“We have also recommended maintaining the right ratio of male and female security staff at workplaces,” he said.