Furore over vasectomies in Karimnagar

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, SEPT. 17. A Congress member, Mr. T. Jeevan Reddy, and the Tourism Minister, Mr. E. Peddi Reddy, offered in the Assembly on Monday to resign from their respective positions over the veracity of official figures on vasectomy operations in Karimnagar district.

Dubbing the statistics bogus, the Congress member contended that vasectomy operations were performed on `ineligible persons' and men from neighbouring Maharashtra and Chattisgarh States, he demanded an inquiry by a House Committee into the actions of the former District Collector, Mr. Debabrata Kantha, for allegedly cooking up figures to curry the Chief Minister's favour. He offered to quit as MLA if he failed to prove that at least 25 per cent of the operations were bogus.

Picking up the challenge, Mr. Peddi Reddi said a few mistakes may have been made here and there. There may be a few instances of migrant labour camping in Karimnagar district opting for vasectomy. ``I am ready to resign as Minister if the member proves that 25 per cent of the operations are bogus,'' he said.

However, the Minister for Finance and Legislative Affairs, Mr. Y. Ramakrishnudu, rejected the member's demand and said the Government would order a departmental inquiry if he furnished specific information about alleged bogus operations. The action report would be handed over to the member.

The Leader of the Opposition, Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, denounced the Government for not responding to his demand for a probe by a senior IAS officer and accused it of making a mockery of a national programme. He lodged the party's protest against the Government's `insincerity' in the face of gross irregularities highlighted by his fellow Congress member.

He also lashed out at the Health Minister, Dr. S. Aruna, to task for stating that vasectomy was performed even on 60-year-old persons who re-married. This was a clear case of an operation being performed on a member of an `ineligible couple' or endorsement of bigamy by the Minister, he added.

The Health Minister stoutly defended implementation of the family welfare programme in Karimnagar district which started first in the number of vasectomies done. Wondering aloud as to how many members had undergone tubectomies and vasectomies, she said they would realise how difficult it was to motivate men to go in for sterilisation.

Dr. Aruna, who was replying to a two-hour discussion on a notice under Rule 304 tabled by TDP members for implementation of family welfare programme in AP, said the State's population stood at 75.7 million as per 2001 census. However, the State's birth rate which stood at 31 per 1000, came down to 26 in 1991 and to 22.3 in 1998.

Under the State's population stabilisation policy, it was proposed to reduce the crude birth rate from the 1998 figure of 2.23 to 1.3 per cent, the crude death rate from 0.88 per cent to 0.6 per cent and the natural growth rate from 1.35 to 0.7 per cent. The State's commendable performance was reflected in the latest census. While the national decadal growth during 1991-2001 was 21.34 per cent, AP registered 13.86 per cent.

Earlier, members from both sides pleaded for giving more incentives for doctors performing sterilisations and improving the facilities at Primary Health Centres as they had good buildings but neither surgeons nor operation theatres. Among those who took part in the debate were Messrs K. Koteswara Rao (TDP), P. Jagan Mohan Rao, M. Thippeswamy (both Cong.), N. Narasimhaiah (CPI(M)) and M. Vema (BJP).

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Section  : Southern States
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