Amid sharp criticism over the death of eight women after mass sterilization at a camp organized by the state government in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh on Tuesday said the doctor who performed the operation has been suspended and a case of criminal offence has been filed against him.
"We have ordered the suspension of all the officers related to this programme like the State's Family Planning in-charge Dr. KC Urao. Similarly, suspension orders of the CHM and DM of Bilaspur have also been given," said Singh.
Describing the issue as extremely sensitive, Singh said it is a matter of negligence.
"We have announced a compensation of Rs. four lakh each to the families of the dead and Rs. 50,000 each to the ones undergoing treatment," he added.
The chief minister himself reviewed the hospital facilities and talked to patients.
"Some are better, but a few are still critical," he said.
More From This Section
He, however, assured that the state government would provide the best medical treatment to the victims.
He added that further investigation would be carried out after receiving the blood and postmortem reports so that the reason behind the deaths could be known.
Former Chhattisgarh chief minister Ajit Jogi earlier in the day demanded the resignation of Raman Singh and state's Health Minister Amar Agarwal.
Out of the 85 women who were operated upon at the government-run Nemi Chand hospital in the Pendari area of Bilaspur as part of a family planning camp, almost 55 suffered problems due to the sterilization surgery.