Cooper Hospital Holds Sensitisation Workshop After Burqa Incident Sparks Outcry
The administration at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation-run Cooper Hospital in Mumbai has conducted a sensitisation workshop for its staff following public outrage over an incident involving a woman who was asked to remove her burqa by a security guard.
The action came after a video of the incident surfaced and went viral on social media, prompting widespread concerns regarding religious discrimination at the healthcare facility.
Samajwadi Party politician Rais Shaikh raised the issue on the social media platform X, describing the incident at Cooper Hospital as deeply concerning and stating that no woman should face discrimination because of her attire or religion.
Cooper Hospital Dean Dr Chaya Shinde stated that the hospital treats all patients and their relatives with respect, describing the event as a severe miscommunication that should not have occurred. Dr Shinde confirmed that the hospital has issued a show-cause notice to the female security personnel who was on duty during the incident.
Dr Shinde also noted that the administration subsequently conducted a round of sensitisation workshops for both doctors and security staff. She pointed out that while such workshops are held regularly, frequent turnover among security personnel creates ongoing challenges.
According to the dean, Cooper Hospital currently operates with 76 security personnel, of whom only 12 are permanently assigned, against an actual requirement of 176 staff members. Dr Shinde added that the deployment of Maharashtra Security Force personnel to the hospital remains an ongoing process.
