Karnataka Women's Commission Chairperson Raises Alarm Over Critical Hospital Vacancies
Mangaluru: Nagalakshmi Choudhary, the chairperson of the Karnataka State Commission for Women (KSCW), voiced significant concern on Saturday regarding the vacant positions of gynaecologist and anaesthesiologist at the Bantwal taluk hospital. She highlighted that these vacancies have led to a drastic reduction in the number of deliveries at the facility, which has plummeted to just 4–5 cases per month. Choudhary described this decline as "a worrying sign" and emphasized that filling these posts promptly would help increase delivery cases, thereby improving maternal healthcare access in the region.
Immediate Actions and Referral Issues
During her interaction with reporters, Choudhary revealed that she has directed officials to expedite the recruitment process for these critical roles. Currently, the majority of delivery cases are being referred to Lady Goschen Hospital in Mangaluru, which places additional strain on that facility and inconveniences patients. She also pointed out an incident where, despite adequate medicine stock at the hospital pharmacy, a pharmacist allegedly instructed a woman to purchase medicines from a private shop, raising questions about service quality and ethical practices.
Addressing Police Conduct and Gender Sensitivity
Choudhary, who presided over a Mahila Spandana grievance meeting, took decisive action regarding complaints about police behavior. She directed the Mangaluru City Police to take appropriate measures against the inspector of the Kavoor police station, who was accused of not behaving politely towards a woman. "A woman complained during the grievance meeting about the inspector. The ACP said a notice had already been served on the inspector. However, I directed the ACP to submit a report after taking appropriate action," she stated. Additionally, she requested the City Police to organize a gender-sensitization workshop for all police personnel to foster a more respectful and supportive environment for women.
Concerns Over Market Rents and Transportation
The grievance meeting also addressed issues faced by fisherwomen at the State Bank fish market. Choudhary noted that the rent at the newly constructed, centrally air-conditioned Central Market is prohibitively high, making it difficult for these women to afford space. She has asked the Mangaluru City Corporation commissioner to consider reducing the rent to support their livelihoods. Furthermore, students from the post-matric hostel at Madyar raised concerns about the lack of bus facilities, impacting their access to education and daily commute.
Workplace Compliance and Future Initiatives
Choudhary highlighted a significant compliance gap in workplaces across Dakshina Kannada. While Internal Complaints Committees (ICC) are mandatory, only over 600 establishments out of more than 3,000 institutions have uploaded their ICC details on the She-Box portal. She has directed the deputy commissioner to ensure strict adherence to this rule, aiming to enhance workplace safety and grievance redressal mechanisms for women.
Looking ahead, the commission plans to establish a 24x7 call center at its Bengaluru head office to provide immediate assistance to women in distress. "We want to introduce a new complaint management system that would allow women to complain through WhatsApp and track the status too. We sought funds from the government for the proposal," Choudhary explained. Additionally, she mentioned that the commission would offer financial assistance to any university conducting a study on domestic violence linked to alcoholism, underscoring their commitment to addressing root causes of gender-based issues.
Of the 38 complaints received during the Mahila Spandana meeting, most were resolved on the spot, demonstrating the commission's proactive approach to addressing women's grievances in real-time.
