BOTCHED OPERATIONS: Uproar in Chhattisgarh assembly after 12 patients left blind

Raipur, Dec 19 (IANS) The issue of an eye operation camp which left 12 people blind in Chhattisgarh rocked the state assembly Wednesday with the opposition Congress terming the lapses “most grave” and staging a walkout over their demand for discussion.

The camp was held in the Bagbahera area in Mahasamund district Dec 9-10 and the government has ordered a probe into the incident.

According to a minister, “one eye of the victims was removed only after it became apparent that their other eye will also be damaged due to the infection.”

The Congress, which has 39 members in the 90-member assembly, sought an adjournment motion for detailed discussion on the issue, a judicial probe, $18,000 compensation for the victim and government jobs for a kin of each of the victims.

Legislative Affairs Minister Brijmohan Agrawal, who was designated to give reply on behalf of Health Minister Amar Agrawal, said loss of sight by 12 people due to botched eye operations held by Krishna Memorial Hospital and the government health department was a painful issue and urged for not giving it a political hue.

He said $900 provided by the government to each victim was a monetary assistance to the victims and not a compensation as claimed by the opposition.