Amid a furore over increasing number of minors, unmarried and even elderly people being sterilized without their consent in Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Friday ordered that there should be no forced sterilizations for the sake of meeting targets.
“It should be ensured that there is no coercion in the name of meeting the target of vasectomy. The officers should send this instruction to the field staff,” the chief minister said in his instruction to collectors and divisional commissioners during a video conferencing programme.
“Exercise precautions that the field staff does not indulge in acts like issuing notices and enticing people for meeting their targets. All the departments should undertake joint efforts for creating awareness among people towards family welfare,” he added. Chief Secretary Avani Vaish and director general of police S.K. Raut were also present.
The chief minister’s concern comes as an increasing number of cases of forced sterilizations are coming to light in the state.
On Friday, an under-18 youth of Rewa district complained to the collector that his sterilization was done when he went to a health centre to get medicine for fever.
“I had gone to take medicine for fever. But the compounder told me that whoever comes to the health centre can not go without sterilization, and they conducted my vasectomy operation,” said the teenager.
He along with his father complained to the collector of Rewa district S.N. Rupla.
“Such operations can not take place without anyone’s permission. I have ordered an inquiry into it,” said collector Rewa.
On Thursday, an 18-year-old labourer Meghnath who is to get married in April was allegedly made to undergo vasectomy under the influence of a drug.
Meghnath is a resident of Murena and had gone to Gwalior where his operation was done.
In Vidisha district, a woman Rekha died after she underwent sterilization a second time. In 2002, her sterilization was done.
In Satna, an Anganwadi assistant Batwa Bai Kaul’s 60-year-old husband was made to undergo vasectomy.
“I had to get my husband’s vasectomy done as there was immense pressure on me to arrange for two persons as my target, or I may lose my job,” said Batwa Bai.
The project officer, woman and child development department, Gaurav Singh said on the issue, “There was no such pressure on anyone, but we will inquiry into it.”