MP backtracks on sterilisation order

The Madhya Pradesh government has cancelled a male sterilisation order amid sharp reactions from the opposition BJP.

The order had ignited a huge controversy with the BJP targeting Chief Minister

Kamal Nath with references to an “undeclared Emergency,’’ a replay of Indira Gandhi’s clamp down on civil liberties in 1975.

Owing to the sensibilities involved, heads have rolled and National Health Mission director Chhavi Bharadwaj has been removed and appointed OSD in Mantralaya. In turn, Director Ashyushman Mission, Dr J Vijay Kumar, has been given charge of NHM. In view of the state falling short of male sterilisation targets, the National Health Mission had issued a diktat that if health workers failed to induce even one person from going in for sterilization, their salaries would be withheld and they would be given compulsory retirement.

The circular drew flak from the opposition parties with former MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan calling it an 'undeclared emergency'.

The NHM had issued the order on February 11.

The NHM order was prompted by a National Family Health Survey report, which had recorded that only 0.5 per cent men were opting for sterilisation in Madhya Pradesh.

So, a circular was issued stating that health workers should mobilise at least five to 10 willing beneficiaries when camps are held in districts.

The NHM had also asked top district officials and the Chief Medical and Health Officers to identify male workers with “zero work output'' and apply the “no-work nopay'' maxim — if they don't log at least one case in the 2019-20 period that ends next month.

Health minister Tulsi Silawat said on Friday, “The NHM's order related to male sterilization has been cancelled and no action will be taken against any employees of the health department. We are looking into the matter in detail.”