Bhopal: The Congress-led Madhya Pradesh came under fire from the BJP after a government circular, warning multi-purpose health workers (MPHWs) of strict action if they don’t find at least one male for sterilisation, came to light.
According to a report by News18, the government circular, issued on February 11 by Madhya Pradesh’s NHM director, ordered the male MPHWs to either find at least one male for sterilisation or face action not limited to voluntary retirement or withholding of salary.
The circular, addressed to the administrative and health officials, quoted the National Family Health Survey report which said that only 0.5 per cent males opted for sterilisation in Madhya Pradesh in 2019-20, and said the figures were “highly dissatisfying”.
The order instructed that at least five to 10 males needed to be sterilised in the health camps organised in the districts.
Orders were also issued to identify of all male workers who failed to mobilise even one male for sterilisation in 2019-20, and to withhold their salaries until they convince at least one male.
Threatening the healt workers further, the circular stated that reports of all ‘inactive’ workers would be sent to health directors for compulsory retirement in case there is no visible improvement in their work.
The circular was revoked after backlash from the opposition parties. Former MP chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan calling the circular an “undeclared emergency” that was being forced on the people by the state government.
MP health minister Tulsiram Silawat told News18 that the circular was issued by the Central Government and that it will be reviewed through the National Rural Health Mission. “The state government will look into it. Action won’t be taken against any health worker and no one will be forced to get sterilised,” he told News18.
