Chhattisgarh assembly rocked by botched up eye operations

Terming the lapses 'most grave', the opposition Congress staged a walkout from the assembly on Wednesday over their demand for discussion over the issue of an eye operation camp in Chhattisgarh which left 12 people blind.

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, Rs.10 lakh compensation for the victim and government jobs for a kin of each 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 up 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 Rs.50,000 provided by the government to each victim was a monetary assistance to the victims and not a compensation as claimed by the opposition.

Source: IANS