Flak for Rajasthan govt's inaction in female foeticide cases

Jaipur, Feb 6 (UNI) The state government's inaction and partisan attitude against doctors involved in female foeticide cases have come under fire from several women organisations, who are planning renewed campaigns against them.

At a press conference here today, Dr Pawan Surana, former State Women Commission's chairperson, said in the nine month long period, the state government has only filed FIRs against 29 doctors out of the total 64 indicted, who were caught during a sting operation by a TV news channel in April 2006.

She said the entire action campaign is limited to small time doctors in remote areas rather than powerful doctors of major cities.

Laad Kumari Jain, a woman activist, said while action has been taken against some doctors in Ajmer, Jaipur's most powerful and renowned doctors have remained untouched in the entire campaign.

The women organisations and several NGOs working in the field would soon pursue individual campaigns against five Jaipur doctors namely Dr Meera Patodiya, Dr Rajeshwari Gupta, Dr Rekha Bhandari, Dr Poonam Chandra Raka and Dr Vinay Suren.

They also expressed surprise doctors of Bharatpur, Health Minister Dr Digamber Singh's native place, have managed to escape the net.

Dr Surana said only 14 state government doctors have been suspended and that only to prolong the whole process and cannot be termed as punishment.

She said the state government has also failed to set up district monitoring committees and counselling committees as promised earlier.

Kavita Srivastav, a PUCL activist said they would campaign to bring forth the nexus between powerful doctors, some policemen and some medical officials, which have been responsible for state government's inaction in these cases.

Mrs Jain said it is amasing nursing homes and hospitals often clean-up before the flying squad arrives, proving that government officials are working as informers.

UNI