'Court interventions to hold govt accountable only way to bring change'

A Delhi-based human rights lawyer, Jayshree Satpute, is one of the five Indians who figured in the list of top 100 inspirational women published by UK-based, The Guardian newspaper.

Jayshree, originally from Chandrapur in Maharashtra, has been working with the Human Rights Law Network (HRLN) in Delhi for the past four years to prevent deaths of women in childbirth.

Jayshree, who is passionate about this issue, told DNA she believes that utilising court interventions to hold government and policymakers accountable for the promises made is the only way to bring about a change in India and make motherhood safer.

The importance of safe motherhood is not understood by families. Is this to be blamed on education?
Health rights include access to medical treatment and this awareness is very important. There have been a lot of incidents where I have filed cases on behalf of unprivileged women and got them justice. If people are empowered about their rights, there can be a better and healthier family.

As a member of the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood, what is your message to today’s women, especially urban mothers?
Urban women include the poor, the middle class and the rich. The middle class and the rich are educated and are somewhat aware about the precautions and treatments that they need to follow during motherhood. But the poor women are the most neglected and my organisation works in this area. We have to look at this aspect and spread awareness among such women. I would like to tell all the women to keep tabs on their health and get proper health checks for safer motherhood.

What steps have been taken to reduce female foeticide by your organisation?
As an organisation we have filed multiple cases and have played a very big role in amending the Pre-conception & Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994. Our cases have acted as a catalyst for the amendment.

What kind of work has the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood done in Maharashtra?
White Ribbon has been instrumental in increasing awareness about maternal and child health in the state.