Chhattisgarh sterilisation deaths: No action taken against guilty, alleges Congress

Raipur: Congress on Monday tried to corner the BJP government in the Chhattisgarh Assembly over the deaths of 13 women after sterilisation surgeries in the Bilaspur district in 2014, alleging that no action has been taken against guilty officials. A heated discussion took place on the last day of Winter Session on the judicial commission’s report on the deaths of women after sterilisation surgeries. [caption id=“attachment_3118056” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] 13 women had died in Bilaspur in 2014 after sterilisation surgeries. PTI[/caption] The Leader of opposition TS Singhdeo alleged no action was taken against the guilty officials even after the judicial inquiry report came out. The report had noted that negligence in following the standard operating procedure for tubectomy camps and poison-laced medicines led to the incident, he said. Reports from laboratories and doctors had confirmed that medicines administered to victims had poisonous substances. Even the room where the operation was performed was not properly sterilised, he added. Government ordered probe but never revealed the action taken on the report, he said. Singhdeo also sought to know whether the action was taken against the drug manufacturer under Drug and Cosmetics Act. Replying to the discussion, Health and Family Welfare Minister Ajay Chandrakar said the state government was not trying to save anyone. Doctors from Aiims Delhi, Apollo Hyderabad and other medical institutes were pressed into service for the treatment of affected women. Government ordered probe on next day of the incident, Chandrakar said, describing the incident as serious and unfortunate. Compensation of Rs 4 lakh was given to the family members of each deceased woman while the government made arrangements for a better future of children of these women, he said. The minister assured the House that as soon as the court cases are over, all necessary action will be taken for implementation of commission’s recommendations. New guidelines have been issued, wherein, such camps can be held only at places which meet the norms fixed by the state government, he said. Health facilities were expanded during the BJP regime in the state, he claimed. While 12 women who were operated upon at the camp in Pendari village of Bilaspur on 8 November, 2014, died, a protected Baiga tribe woman was the lone casualty from the camps in Pendra block on 10 November, 2014.