Silchar Medical College advisory asking female doctors, students to ‘stay-inside during night hours’ withdrawn amid severe backlash
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The advisory issued by Silchar Medical College & Hospital stands cancelled. A new advisory will be issued in this regard soon.
Assam CMO notice
In response to the backlash, the Assam Chief Minister’s Office announced via Twitter that the advisory, which had been released on August 12, has been cancelled.The office assured that a new advisory will be issued soon, aligning with guidelines from the National Medical Commission (NMC) and government directives. The official notice reads, “As NMC has issued an advisory vide no. N-16021/33/2024-IT-NMC(8291616), dt. 13.08.2024, the advisory issued by Silchar Medical College & Hospital administration vide no. SMC/11782, dt. 12.08.2024 stands cancelled. A new advisory will be issued in this regard soon, following NMC norms and with government directives.”
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Issued shortly after the tragic event in Kolkata, the advisory was purportedly aimed at enhancing safety for female members of the college, including students, doctors and other staff, but ended up imposing significant restrictions on their movement, particularly within the medical college campus. The circular primarily focused on limiting the activities of female students rather than addressing broader safety concerns.
The advisory had outlined measures for students, which include:
Female doctors , students, and staff should generally avoid isolated, poorly lit, or sparsely populated areas.- They should try to avoid being alone whenever possible.
- Leaving hostel or accommodation rooms at night should be avoided unless absolutely necessary, and such movements should be reported to the relevant authorities.
- Going off-campus during late or unusual hours should be minimized, and hostel residents are expected to follow the hostel’s rules and regulations.
- Caution should be exercised to avoid interacting with unfamiliar or suspicious individuals.
- It is crucial to have a reliable means of emergency contact.
- While on duty, individuals should stay composed, remain aware of their surroundings, and interact politely with the public to avoid drawing unwanted attention.
- The college has also emphasised that any issues or complaints should be promptly reported to the chairperson or members of the gender harassment, discipline, internal complaint, and anti-ragging committees.
Check the now withdrawn advisory below
The advisory faced intense criticism from both students and social media users, who labeled it as “misogynistic.” Critics argued that instead of imposing restrictions on female students, the college should focus on improving campus security measures.
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