MP govt takes back its order on sterilisation

Madhya Pradesh government on Friday took back the order directing health workers in the state to bring at least one man for sterilisation or face penalty.

Madhya Pradesh Health Minister Tulsi Silawat said that the state government has withdrawn the order.

The Congress government had earlier sent out an order directing all health workers in the state to bring at least one man for sterilisation failing which they could lose their jobs or their salaries.

"Officials in the district should identify workers with zero work output and apply the 'no work, no pay' principle if, they have failed to get one male person for sterilisation in the 2019-20 period," stated the order in Hindi, signed by National Health Mission (NHM), Madhya Pradesh, Mission Co-ordinator, Chavi Bharadwaj.

The diktat had stark similarity with the sterilisation drive forced on people during the national emergency in 1975 under the Indira Gandhi-led Congress government.

"All male multi-purpose health workers (MPHWs) should mobilise at least five to ten willing beneficiaries who will opt for sterilisation when camps are held in districts," the MP government's order dated February 11 further said.

"If the target is not achieved by February 20 then the proposals calling for compulsory retirement of MPHWs will be sent through District Collectors to the NHM headquarters in Bhopal," it added.