BHRC directs govt to pay compensation for 703 uterus removals

The Bihar Human Rights Commission today directed the state government to pay compensation, totalling around Rs 15 crore, to 703 victims whose uterus were removed purportedly to gain incentive money under Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna four years ago.
BHRC directed the state government to pay the compensation to victims within three months, the Commission said in a statement here.
Removal of uterus deprives a woman opportunity of being a mother and attaining complete womanhood. Right to procreation is a facet of right to life and therefore involves human rights, the commission observed.
BHRC directed the state government to pay a compensation of Rs 2.50 lakh each to victims in the age group of 20-40 and Rs 1.50 lakh to those above 40 year.

The commission had suo motu taken up the matter of removal of uterus in 2012 particularly in districts like Saran, Sitamarhi, Samastipur, Jamui, Sasaram, Begusarai, Katihar and Supual, on the basis of media reports.
Following repeated queries by the commission, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar set up an expert committee in October 2012 to look into the issue.

The expert committee submitted its report to the commission in February last.
The committee found that uterus of women were removed in different parts of the state to get incentive under Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna for BPL families women.
It also found that in some cases money was passed without surgery and the booty distributed among the beneficiaries while in some other cases, operations were performed by unqualified doctors, the statement said.