Rohit Shishodia
Disturbed over repeated cases of theft of laptops and mobile phones, the Resident Doctors Association of Delhi-AIIMS has demanded immediate monetary compensation by the security staff, as promised, for the all lost items belonging to residents.

In a letter to the Deputy Director, Administration, Delhi-AIIMS, the RDA has demanded implementation of enhanced security door lock for all duty rooms of doctors. Their demands also include efficient follow up of complaints lodged by the Chief Security Officer (CSO) and transfer of the AIIMS Chowki-in-charge with immediate effect.

The RDA letter states that the resident doctors are extremely distressed by the recurrent thefts and unprofessional behavior of the Chowki Incharge.

They doctors have warned that if these demands are not fulfilled, they will consider stopping work as patient care cannot be delivered in an unsafe and non-cooperative environment.

The letter states that many valuable articles and gadgets including laptops, vehicles, mobiles and personal belongings of resident doctors have been stolen from doctors' duty rooms and campus at a time when residents are busy in taking care of patients.

It is stated in the letter that the attitude of AIIMS security and CSO has been extremely callous in this regard. The behavior of CSO and AIIMS police Chowki-in-charge has been unprofessional and non-cooperative with the residents.

There have been reports of complaints for FIRs not being registered. Police staff scolded the female residents for not taking care of her belongings when she went there to lodge an FIR for her lost laptop. They made her run from pillar to post but did not lodge any FIR in the case.

The letter reads that there is always a delay in action and no follow up of the complaints lodged earlier. Residents are made to run from pillar to post for registering their complaints. In many cases, no action is initiated in spite of providing CCTV footage of the culprits. Many residents have not even received compensation for the items they lost many years back which is the only assurance security officer gave at the time of theft.