Centre to provide assistance in Bilaspur tragedy probe: Health Minister JP Nadda

Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Thursday said the Centre will provide all necessary assistance for the judicial inquiry initiated by Chhattisgarh Government in the sterilization tragedy that claimed the lives of 13 women in Bilaspur.

In a statement issued here, Nadda said that he was in constant touch with Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh on the issue. "He (Raman Singh) informed that a judicial inquiry has been ordered by the state government. The centre will provide all necessary assistance for the inquiry," Nadda said in the statement.

On Singh's request the Centre sent a team of doctors from AIIMS which has supervised the medical treatment being given to the affected patients, it said. 

"The Health Minister informed that the team of doctors has provided necessary guidance and support to the team of treating doctors in order to ensure that the best possible care is being provided to the affected persons," the statement added.

Nadda further stated that it was a misconception that family planning is a target driven programme. On the contrary, he stated that it is a target-free, promotional and a demand driven program. He clearly stated that there are no targets set by the Central government.

Under attack over botched sterilization surgeries at government-run medical camps which have so far claimed lives of 13 women in Chhattisgarh, the state Chief Minister today announced a judicial probe into the incidents.