Tribal says he was forced to undergo vasectomy

A 30-year-old tribal has alleged that he was forced to undergo sterilisation by local government health officials, triggering protests by a group of people at Pulpally in Wayanad district.
Health officials, however, said he had voluntarily approached the centre to undergo vasectomy.
Pulpally Police identified the alleged victim as Chandran of Palamoola tribal hamlet of Pulpally in Wayanad district.
As per a complaint filed by the man on Sunday, a Junior Health Inspector of the CHC called him for doing some work on Friday.
On their way to the Health Centre, the official asked him to take an anti-tetanus injection, and when they reached the CHC, he was forcibly sterilised, he alleged.

When he was discharged from the CHC in the evening on Friday, officials gave him Rs 1,000. When he reached home, he felt uneasiness and pain in his private parts. Though he returned to the CHC the next day, authorities did not admit him, he said.

However, CHC officials said Chandran had voluntarily approached the centre to undergo the vasectomy.
They claimed he had two children and also signed the consent form. But the man contradicted it, saying he had married a tribal woman who had two children from her earlier marriage. But she deserted him some nine years ago.

The functioning of the Centre was disrupted for two hours after some people staged the protest yesterday.
District Collector Kesevendrakumar held talks with the protesters. He promised them that stringent action would be taken after a detailed report from the District Medical Officer.