Govt transfers Tihar's 26 women nurses after molestation complaint

Delhi government has transferred 26 women nurses posted at Tihar prisons hospital following a complaint by a doctor that she was molested by an inmate, a move that has not gone down well with the nurses.

The nurses have called for revoking the transfer, saying if they are not safe inside one of the largest prison complexes in South Asia where else they would be.

Delhi government's Health department transferred 26 women nurses posted at Tihar's health care facility to Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital.

These nurses will replaced by 26 male nurses of Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, according to an order issued by Superintendent (HR-Nursing).

The move comes in the wake of a woman doctor's allegation that she was molested by a convict at the prison hospital.

However, the government move has drawn the ire of women nurses posted at Tihar, who said that if they are not safe inside the largest complex of prisons in South Asia, where else they will be.

In a letter to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the nurses had demanded that the transfer orders should be revoked.

"If women are not secure inside Tihar prison health care centre, which is the largest complex of prisons in South Asia, where in national capital they will be.

"At a time when everybody is talking about women empowerment, such steps would shatter their confidence so that they never stand up against the atrocities they are subjected to," the letter said adding that the transfer orders should be revoked.

"Transferring the woman nurses is not the solution. It is the responsibility of the government to provide us security and safety and with such moves, it is running away from its responsibility," said a senior nurse.

The security of women staff, including doctors and nurses, at Tihar prisons recently came under scanner, after a doctor working there approached the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) levelling allegations of sexual harassment against an inmate. 

The commission, after receiving the complaint, issued a notice to the Tihar Jail authorities asking them to provide information regarding the number of woman doctors, nurses and other women deployed in male prisons and also sought the reasons for appointing them.
The doctor in her complaint also said that she had reported similar incidents but no action was taken. After that the DCW asked the DG Prisons to submit a detailed action taken report.

The Commission has also asked the authorities to provide copies of the complaints regarding sexual harassment received by them from women employees since 2012 till date, along with the action taken report.