A team of Medical Experts from All India Institute of Medical Sciences – AIIMS, Delhi has reached Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh to provide treatment to women hospitalised after botched sterilization surgeries. Our correspondent reports that this seven member team will decide the line of treatment to women whose condition is reported to be critical after the sterilization surgeries at a government health camp. State Chief Minister Raman Singh requested the Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda to send experts from AIIMS for the treatment of affected women.
Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh high court has taken a suo moto cognizance of the sterilization camp tragedy and issued notice to the state government. Twelve women have died so far in the incident. Condition of 8 women were reported to be critical. More than 50 women are undergoing treatment in four different hospitals of Bilaspur. This camp was organized in Pendari village of Takhatpur block in Bilaspur district last Saturday as a part of family planning programme. Meanwhile, opposition Congress has called for a state wide bandh today protesting against the incident.
The bandh called by Congress has evoked mixed response, with schools and establishments remaining closed in different parts of the state. In capital Raipur congress workers threw stones on a school bus. Minor clashes between congress workers and police have been reported at some places. Police arrested some congress workers in Raipur while they were protesting. Congress is demanding resignation of Chief Minister and state health minister over the sterilization camp tragedy in Bilaspur. Meanwhile, one more instance of botched sterlisation has come into light in the state. Six women, who were operated in Government health camp on Monday in Pendra area of Bilaspur district were hospitalized in a critical condition in Bilaspur.
The Supreme Court today refused to take suo motu cognisance of news reports relating to death of 12 women in the state. A bench headed by Chief Justice H L Dattu said that the Chief Minister of the state has taken up the issue with the Prime Minister therefore it cannot take suo motu cognizance. The bench said this after a lawyer cited a news report and sought judicial intervention in the matter. The court told the lawyer that instead of citing newspaper report, he should have filed a proper petition.
