Badwani eye camp victims to get Rs.5,000 pension: Shivraj Singh

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday announced that the people who lost their eyesight during an eye camp in Badwani district recently will get Rs.5,000 as monthly pension.

Speaking in the state assembly, Chouhan also ordered a high-level probe of the incident that led to 40 of the 86 patients losing their eyesight after undergoing cataract surgery.

On Sunday, a team of experts from AIIMs after inspecting the patients concluded that the eyewash fluid used by the patients was contaminated and led to eye infection. They said it was difficult that anyone of the patient would have his or her eyesight back.

Terming the incident as quite tragic, Chouhan announced no more eye camp would be organised in the state in future.

Chouhan said the state government is ensuring a financial help of Rs.2 lakh and treatment for those who have lost eyesight in one eye.

Earlier in the day, the opposition brought an adjournment motion in the assembly over the irresponsibility shown at the eye camp and demanded state Health Minister Narottam Mishra should resign.

Mishra, however, sought to know from the Congress members if the then chief minister Arjun Singh or any of his ministers had resigned after 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy.

Angered over the minister's statement, Congress members staged a walkout.