[Reader-list] Fwd: [ANN:5546] For Urgent Release: NAPM strongly condemns the arrest of Madhuri Krishnaswamy in Madhya Pradesh

[Asit Das]

*NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF PEOPLE'S MOVEMENTS***

*National Office : *6/6 Jangpura B, New Delhi – 110 014 . Phone : 011 2437
4535

E-mail: napmindia at gmail.com <napmindia at gmail.om> | Web : www.napm-india.org
**



18th May, 2013



*NAPM strongly condemns the arrest of Madhuri Krishnaswamy in *

*Madhya Pradesh*

* *

National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM) strongly protests the arrest
of Madhuri Behen in district Barwani of Madhya Pradesh. It is a sad state
of democracy to put her behind bars for fighting injustice and bad state of
maternal health system.

* *

Madhuri Behen from Jagrit Adivasi Dalit Sanghatan was arrested on 16th May,
2013 afternoon in a case that was filed against her and others as a result
of protests for forcing a pregnant woman i.e. Baniya Bai who was in a
critical condition and was in labour to deliver in full public view just
outside the Menimata PHC.



The case was filed against Madhuri, Baniya Bai's Husband, Basant and others
by the compounder and was registered as FIR No 93 of 2008. Madhuri and
others had received a court notice to appear in the Court of Shri D.P.
Singh Sewach, JMFC on 16th May. Madhuri appeared and was informed that the
police had filed a closure report (khatma) but had not stated clear reasons
for the closure and therefore the report was refused. Madhuri was arrested
from the court complex. She has been remanded in JC till 30th May 2013 and
will be placed in Khargone women's Jail.



This case of Baniya Bai is also part of the writ petition filed in the High
Court Of MP, Indore Bench in which the status of maternal health services
was raised in light of 29 maternal deaths recorded in a span of 9 months in
Barwani DH.



*We demand:-*

·         *Immediate release of Madhuri Behen and others in the matter. *

·         *To the State government to look into the matter of Maternal
Health and health system in large as a serious concern. *

* *

*Details of the case are as follows: *



A ST resident of of village Sukhpuri, Barwani. Baniya Bai was taken to the
Menimata PHC for delivery by her father-in-law, Dalsingh, on the night of
11 November 2008.  They made the 15 km journey on a bullock cart because no
other transport was available.  After admitting and taking a cursory look
at her, the compounder, V.K. Chauhan, and nurse, Nirmala, left the PHC and
went home.



The next morning, Baniya was forced by the compounder and the nurse to
leave the hospital.  Her family was asked for Rs. 100, which they did not
have and so Dalsing immediately went to get money from their village.
Despite attempts to re-admit Baniya Bai to the PHC, the compounder flatly
refused saying that they could not manage the delivery so she would have to
go to Barwani DH or Silawad Hospital.



Baniya’s relatives tried to get the Menimata hospital compounder, nurse and
staff to call for the Janani Express, but were unsuccessful. The family was
told to make its own arrangements to refer to a higher hospital.  When
forced to leave the PHC Baniya Bai crawled out of the labour room, on to
the road outside the PHC, where she lay down in severe pain.



Eventually, Baniya’s mother-in-law, Suvali Bai, went looking for a Dai in
the marketplace and found Jambai Nana, who had come to market collect her
wages. After hearing about Baniya Bai's situation, Jambai agreed to assist
her, and at around 12PM, conducted a normal delivery on the road outside
the hospital. The father-in-law gave his dhoti (loin cloth) to provide
cover for Baniya Bai during delivery. Following this incident, a crowd
gathered outside the health centre.



Madhuri was passing by, inquired about what was happening. She then called
up the Silawad CHC, the Silawad Police Station as well as health officials
from Barwani. Upon being informed, senior officials from the health
department ordered for a vehicle to be sent immediately to the Menimata
PHC. After being denied emergency obstetric care and being forced to
deliver in public view, Baniya Bai's and her child were taken to the
Silawad Hospital for admission. The compounder was suspended after repeated
demands for action from JADS, but was soon reinstated.

Please call and fax the Chief Minister and Chief Secretary on the following
numbers.

1.Chief Minister,Shri Shivraj Singh Cauhan

*Office Address*

Shyamla Hills, Bhopal-
*Phone *+91-755-2441581,2441033* Fax *+91-755-2441781

2. Chief Secretary

*Office Address*

, Bhopal-
*Phone *+91-755-2441848,2441370* Fax *+91-755-2441521


 *Medha Patkar,                  Dr. Sunilam,             Arundhati Dhuru,
       Kamayani Swami,    *

*Sudhir Vombatkere,     Bhupender Singh Rawat,      Vimal Bhai,
     Mahendra Yadav, *

*Meera,           Seela Manaswinee,             Madhuresh Kumar*
-- 
===============================================
*National Alliance of People’s Movements
*National Office : 6/6, Jangpura B, Mathura Road, New Delhi 110014
Phone : 011 26241167 / 24354737 Mobile : 09818905316
Web : www.napm-india.org
Facebook : www.facebook.com/NAPMindia
Twitter : @napmindia

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