Bhopal: Within hours after reports of Madhya Pradesh Health department issuing orders for forceful sterilisation for males, the state government swung into action and removed National Health Mission director Chhavi Bhardwaj and the controversial order was also withdrawn. Taking cognizance of low male sterilisation figures in Madhya Pradesh, the NHM had ordered health workers to either get at least one male for sterilisation or face action like stalled salary or voluntary retirement.
Soon after the report of forceful ‘nasbandi’ campaign of the emergency era under late PM Indira Gandhi’s son Sanjay Gandhi, went viral on social media, the government withdrew the order. Former Chief Minister Shjivraj Singh Chouhan was quick to react on twitter saying was it part 2 of emergency? If Male Multipurpose Health Workers are lacking, the state government should act but withdrawing salaries and forceful retirement is autocratic.
Leader of Opposition Gopal Bhargav and some others too reacted sharply to this order. Public Relations Minister PC Sharma was the first to react on the issue accepting that there was something wrong claiming the Health minister Tulsi Silawat would look into the matter.