Women sterilised under torchlight: doctor's suspension sought

The authorities have recommended suspension of a doctor who is in-charge of a community health sub-centre in Chatra district where about 40 women were operated upon at a sterilisation camp allegedly under torchlight last week.
Chatra Civil Surgeon Dr S P Singh today said he recommended Dr Bijay Kumar Gupta's suspension to Deputy Commissioner Amit Kumar for dereliction of duty.
Gupta is the in-charge of Itkhori community health sub-centre in Pathalgadda block, where sterilization of 43 women was carried out on January 7 by a Ranchi-based NGO, Janani Surya Clinic.
According to rule, sterilising 43 women would need two doctors but in this case only one doctor operated them and thus the process got delayed, Singh said.

The sub-centre was used only in day time as electrical arrangement there was not adequate, but the sterilisation camp continued till night because of the delay and torchlight was required to complete the operations.
The civil surgeon said he has also recommended to Campaign Director, National Rural Health Mission, non-renewal of the contract with Janani Surya Clinic.
Its contract with the government expired on December 31 last year but it continued with the camp held on January 7.
The action comes after BJP MLA Jaiprakash Singh Bhokta had on January 9 informed the Assembly that 40 women underwent sterilization under torchlight in Chatra district.