Reproductive rights
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 23 2012:
Even as there have been many cases pertaining to violation of women's reproductive rights in Manipur, very few victims go to law courts for justice.
Reproductive right is a fundamental right of all women and any challenge to this right is punishable according to law, stated Advocate Meihoubam Rakesh.
Speaking as resource person at a one-day workshop held at ICM conference hall today under the aegis of the Human Rights Law Network, Rakesh highlighted the inseparable connection between women's health and reproductive rights.
When someone violates the reproductive right, the woman's right to good health is being trampled upon.
Significantly, Rakesh Meihoubam was speaking at a workshop held on the theme Reproductive and Health Rights.
All women should be entitled to such rights as reproductive right, right to decide on the number of children she should bear, right to decide on time gap between child births, right to enjoy benefits of all programmes related to child delivery, pre-natal and post-natal care.
There have been many cases of forced abortion, denial of medical care to pregnant women, forcing women to deliver children without giving due time gap, negligence of pregnant women by doctors and nurses etc, said Rakesh.
There are reports that some doctors asked money from patient parties before conducting caesarian operations for child delivery.
Even as all these practices amount to violation of reproductive rights, very few victims take help of the law court to redress their grievances or ensure justice for themselves.
The National Maternity Benefit Scheme provides Rs 500 per month to all pregnant women so that they can take nutritious food.
Again, the Janani Shishu Suraksha scheme assures all medical expenses incurred during child delivery in Government hospitals whether it is normal delivery or through caesarian operation.
However in Manipur, all these Central sponsored schemes are seemingly implemented only on papers.
But again, no one has ever filed a complained at law courts for denying them benefits of these schemes, Rakesh noted while exhorting all women to go to law courts if their reproductive rights have been violated.