16/02/2016
An Open Letter to Bengal's Finance Minister, Amit Mitra
By AMRI FIRE VICTIM ASSOCIATION
Respected Sir,
On behalf of "Association of Corporate Advisors & Executive ( ACAE)", you, part of the Council of Minister of the West Bengal Govt, have given the Life Time Achievement award to Mr. R.S. Agarwal and Mr. R.S Goenka as a part of 4th ET Bengal Corporate Award at Taj Bengal on 23rd January 2016.
Life Time Achievement Award signifies that these persons are exceptionally diligent in managing the affairs of their business and ensures complainace with the law of the land.
The concerned gentlemen were the owners/directors of AMRI Hospitals ( AMRI HOSPITAL being a part of EMAMI GROUP) , when the devastating fire broke out at the Annexe I Bldg at Dhakuria, Kolkata on 9th December 2011, claiming 92 innocent lives. This fire was the third fire at the same hospital.
We, the kin of the AMRI Fire Victims, are therefore deeply shocked and surprised at your decision to give the Life Time Achievement Award to those persons who have been accused of commiting the offence of Culpable homicide not amounting to murder( IPC Sec 304) , Attempt to commit Culpable Homicide ( IPC Sec 308) , Negligent conduct with respect to Fire ( under IPC Sec 285 and 36) as per chargesheet filed by Kolkata Police in 2012
The public perception of your action suggests that they have been vindicted and redeemed for having cause deaths to 92 innocent patients who were under the treatment in that hospital. The deaths of 92 patients by poisonous smoke/fire could have been easily avoided , had it not been a deliberate acts of non- complainance with Fire Safety standards.
The AMRI Fire Incident is not an accident but a man-made diasaster where owner/Director has deliberately not enforced the fire safety norms , cut the cost corners, didnot take steps to renew the Hospital's Quality Accreditation Certificate under the "National Accreditation Board of Hospitals (NABH)" , Failed to comply with the Mandatory Radiation Safety Clearances from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board ( AERB). Inspite of repeated fire incidents in the same building in past , and receiving several warnings from concerned Authorities, no safety measures/ Evacuation methods were implemented, even after several undertakings by them to the concerned authorities. This act of theirs indicates that deliberately and intentionally , Fire Safety standards were not followed , which caused the deaths of 92 patients due to ASPHYXIA ( Death due to poisonous smoke) , as per Post-Mortem Report.
The day the fire broke out at AMRI Hospital, our CM ,Smt. Mamata Banerjee showed her deepest concern towards the victims' families and also said in 2012 - Milan Mela " Manush Marar Shilpa Chai na".
But when you , being a cabinet minister of the same Govt, gave away the Life Time achievement award to two of the Owners/ Directors despite their past record, we found ourselves faced with the questions whether people accused in criminal cases really deserve such prestigious awards and if this will add value to Bengal's or your Govt's image.
You, respected Sir, being a peoples' representative, and an honourable Minister of the State, are in the best position to understand that such awards will only help the accused to strengthen their case and escape the clutches of law, which under any circumstances is highly undesirable.
We, having lost our dear ones in the AMRI FIRE INCIDENT, can never forget the nightmare of that fateful day and also do not want the crime to be repeated again and therefore we take this opportunity to express our deepest concern. We need impartiality from the Govt. to allow the ends of justice to be served.
Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,
AMRI FIRE VICTIM ASSOCIATION.
