'Issue advisory for men!': Silchar Medical College’s ‘misogynistic’ advice for female students draws flak

NEW DELHI: Assam’s Silchar Medical College has issued an advisory restricting the female students movement on campus in the wake of the alleged rape and murder of a PG trainee doctor in Kolkata government medical hospital. The state medical college has been facing backlash and is being heavily trolled over the ‘misogynistic’ advisory asking female students ‘not to attract unnecessary attention’ and to avoid ‘poorly lit and sparsely populated areas’.

The advisory was issued in days after the recent tragic and reprehensible incident at RG Kar Medical College, Kolkata. Although the Silchar Medical College advisory was issued “to enhance safety and security of female doctors, students, and all healthcare workers”, the circular mostly put restrictions on the movement of female students on campus.

“Any issues or grievances should be immediately communicated to the chairman or members of the gender harassment committee, disciplinary committee, internal-complaint committee, and anti-ragging committee,” it said.

The medical college has listed 7 measures for the safety of students on campus.

• Female doctors, students, and staff should generally avoid isolated, poorly lit, and sparsely populated areas.
• Female doctors, students, and staff should, as much as possible, avoid situations where they are alone.
• Refrain from leaving hostel or lodging rooms during night hours unless absolutely necessary, with prior information to the concerned authority,
• Avoid going off-campus during late or odd hours. All hostel boarders should abide by the hostel norms and regulations laid down by the institute and administration.
• Be cautious and avoid associating with individuals who appear unknown or suspicious in nature.
• Always ensure you have a means of making emergency contact in case of urgent situations
• While on duty you should be well composed emotionally, remain alert about the surroundings and should graciously interact with the public, so that you dоn't attract unnecessary attention of unscrupulous people.

Also read NMC issues advisory for all medical colleges to develop policy for safe work environment

Silchar Medical College trolled for ‘misogynistic’ advisory

The SMCH advisory is being widely circulated on social media. One of the X user wrote: "WTF Silchar Medical College! The advisory should be for the men and not women. What kind of a country are we?"

“Blame the victim, don’t blame the rapist. Wow hats off to the Government of Assam and administration of Silchar Medical College. Instead of increasing security they are issuing guidelines for the females doctors and medical students,” Abhimanyu Meena, a X user posted.

Highlighting four points of the circular, another X user condemned the guidelines issued by Silchar Medical college asking female medical students to ‘behave’ amid crisis and outrage caused by the recent female doctor rape and murder case in Kolkata.

“When are we going to instill this fear in men that if they can’t keep it in their pants they will have to suffer the consequences that can ruin their lives. All these years women were told to do everything to protect themselves and nothing worked, high time these men are taught some lesson!” another user posted on X.