Fact-Finding Report on Sterilization, Access to Contraceptive Information and Services, and Women’s Health in Bilaspur

Post Date: Wednesday, May 25, 2016

An 8 November 2014 a sterilization camp resulted in 15 deaths in Takhatpur Block in Sakri, Bilaspur District, and Chhattisgarh. On 10 November 2014 doctors conducted sterilization camps in Gaurella Block at Gaurella, Marwahi, and Pendra. One woman died as a result of the Gaurella camp. Some women remain hospitalized in critical at Apollo Hospital, Bilaspur. The government has issued Rs. 4 lakh to the families of the deceased and promised to provide health care and education to their children.

Journalists from India and the world reported the gruesome details: a single doctor operated on 83 women in just a few hours, the hospital, which is usually closed, was filthy, the women recovered from the surgery on the floor, and all parties, the doctor, field level health workers (mitanins) and the women received an incentive payment. 16 young women who attended this camp expecting a simple procedure to control their fertility have died as a result of this undignified, unsafe, and unethical treatment.

Methodology

On 14 November a reproductive rights activist from the Delhi based Human Rights Network traveled to Bilaspur to conduct a fact-finding with two local lawyers. The fact finding had two primary goals: (1) To determine whether the sterilization camp held at Sakri in November 2014 violated women’s fundamental rights; (2) To determine whether this camp represents a single case of medical negligence or whether the camp is part of a larger state failure to ensure women’s reproductive rights.

The team conducted interviews at the following locations:

• District Hospital, Bilaspur
• Chhattisgarh Institute of Medical Science (CIMS), Bilaspur
• Apollo Hospital, Bilaspur
• Nemichand Jain Hospital and Research Centre
• Ganiyari village, home of the deceased Shiv Kumari
• Dhanauli village, home of the deceased Chaiti Bai
• Gaurella Community Health Centre
• Lokhandi village, home of the deceased Dularin Bai
• Chichirda Village, home of the deceased Janaki Suryavanshi
• Ghuru village, home of the deceased Nem Bai
• Nirtu village, home of the deceased Ranjita Suryavanshi