Pregnancy test for tribal girls; inquiry ordered
Immediately after the report about pregnancy test of nine tribal girls in Betul district, pregnancy test of 40 more tribal girls has been reported from Dindori district, about 470 kilometers south-east of Bhopal. In both the cases, the girls were seeking benefits under the Mukhyamantri Kanyadan Yojna.
Immediately after the report about pregnancy test of nine tribal girls in Betul district, pregnancy test of 40 more tribal girls has been reported from Dindori district, about 470 kilometers south-east of Bhopal. In both the cases, the girls were seeking benefits under the Mukhyamantri Kanyadan Yojna.
As per a report, 40 tribal girls were subjected to pregnancy tests by collecting their urine on June 12, 2013 a day before the mass marriage ceremony was held at Bajak village under the Scheme.
Bajak Community Health Centre officer Dr Rupum Mitra was incharge of the medical checkup for the girls who had opted to get married under the Scheme.
When contacted, Dr Rupum Mitra claimed that he was instructed by the Bajak Janpad Panchayat authorities to do the medical check-up to verify their eligibility for the marriage under the Mukhyamantri Kanyadan Yojana. The pregnancy test, according to him, was a part of the process.
He admitted that the urine samples of 40 girls were collected before marriage ceremony. Out of the 40 girls, about 5 girls tested positive in the pregnancy test.
The authorities rejected the applications of these girls who tested positive for pregnancy and were not allowed to take benefit of the scheme, he informed.
Jabalpur divisional commissioner (revenue) Deepak Khandekar said an inquiry had been ordered into the incident.
He said he received a complaint regarding the pregnancy test conducted on the girls on Friday.
The statements of the doctor would be recorded and further action would be taken, Khandekar said.
National People's Party (NPP) Mahakaushal coordinator Hari Maravi condemned the State government for subjecting the tribal girls to undergo pregnancy test.
He termed this action of the government as threat to the tribals.
Meanwhile, the Betul district administration denied that there was any such pregnancy test on the tribal girls.