NHRC Seeks Report From Odisha Govt Over Vasectomy On Speech-Impaired Tribal Youth Without Consent

Bhubaneswar: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought an Action Taken Report (ATR) from the Odisha government over vasectomy allegedly performed on an unmarried tribal youth, who suffers from speech disorders, without his consent.

Acting on a petition by human rights activist and lawyer Radhakant Tripathy, the Commission asked the Health and Family Welfare department of the state government to submit an ATR within four weeks, sources said.

The petitioner alleged that the sterilisation surgery was performed on the youth in Mathili Sub-divisional Hospital in tribal-dominated Malkangiri district for the sake of highlighting an increase in cases of vasectomies in the area.

Though the operation was carried out on the basis of a report of an Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) worker, the victim’s consent was not taken, the petitioner alleged, seeking the NHRC’s intervention and adequate compensation for the victim.

Admitting the case, the NHRC has directed Principal Secretary of Health and Family Welfare department of Odisha and Malkangiri District Collector to submit an ATR within four weeks.