New programme will be announced to curb cesarean deliveries: K'taka Health Min. Dinesh Gundu Rao
Belagavi (Karnataka), Dec 16: Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said on Monday that a new programme will be launched next month to control caesarean deliveries in the state.
Responding to a question raised by MLC Jagdeva Guttedar in the Legislative Council, the Minister acknowledged that the rate of cesarean deliveries in the state has been increasing annually.
"... the caesarean delivery rate, which was 35 per cent in 2021-2022, increased to 38 per cent in 2022-23. Currently, the caesarean rate in the state is 46 per cent. We have taken this seriously and are taking measures to control them," Rao said.
He noted that in private hospitals, over 61 per cent of deliveries are caesarean, driven by the fact that caesarean sections generate more income and are easier to perform.
"It is essential to curb this for the health of both the mother and the child. Women need to be mentally and physically prepared for a natural birth. We are formulating a new programme, which will be announced next month. Some private hospitals are performing up to 80-90 per cent caesarean deliveries," he added.
Rao, responding to another question, said eight cases have been registered in the state since 2023-24, and 46 people have been arrested in connection with foeticide.
A large number of foeticide cases have been detected due to increased inspections of scanning centers and hospitals in the state. Action is being taken against those involved in foeticide through successful decoy operations, he said.
To prevent foeticide in the state, the government has established all statutory committees under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act at the state and district levels, the Minister said. Since 2018, all scanning centers in the state have been required to register and renew through the ‘Balika’ software.
He said that 100 per cent registration of pregnant women is underway at the state level, and information technology is being used to monitor sex ratio data at the village level.
Pointing out that 136 cases have been registered in the state against scanning centers, owners, or doctors for violating the PCPNDT Act, Rao said 74 persons have been fined and acquitted, while 65 cases are still pending in court at various stages.
He said the Karnataka government has increased the reward for informers who provide information about scanning centers, hospitals, doctors, brokers, or relatives involved in detecting and killing female foetuses, helping in filing a case, from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh.
The rate of cesarean deliveries in the state has been increasing every year. From 35% in 2021-2022, it rose to 38% in 2022-2023, and currently, the cesarean delivery rate stands at 46%. To safeguard the health of mothers and newborns, there is an urgent need to regulate cesarean… https://t.co/y3GKI3jMMU
— Dinesh Gundu Rao/ದಿನೇಶ್ ಗುಂಡೂರಾವ್ (@dineshgrao) December 16, 2024
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TMC condemns Firhad Hakim's remark on Muslim percentage, distances itself from it
Kolkata, Dec 16: Amid criticism over a controversial remark of senior Trinamool Congress leader and West Bengal minister Firhad Hakim on the Muslim percentage in the population, the ruling party in the state on Monday distanced itself from his statements and condemned them.
A controversy erupted after a purported video surfaced on Saturday of Hakim, the Mayor of Kolkata and the state's Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Minister, addressing a gathering of minority students.
In the speech, Hakim reportedly said, "In West Bengal, we (Muslims) are 33 per cent and nationwide, we are 17 per cent."
Advocating that minorities should strive to reach a position where they can assert themselves more forcefully and their call for justice is acknowledged, Hakim had said, "We may be minorities numerically, but by Allah's grace, we can become so powerful that we will not need to hold candlelight rallies for justice. We will be in a position where we will become the majority in the true sense of empowerment."
A video of Hakim's speech went viral, but its authenticity could not be independently verified by PTI.
Reacting sharply, the Trinamool Congress issued a statement on X on Monday distancing itself from Hakim's remarks.
"The All India Trinamool Congress firmly disassociates itself from and strongly condemns the statement made by Shri Firhad Hakim, MIC GoWB, at an event day before yesterday. These comments do not reflect the party's position or ideology. Our commitment to peace, unity, and communal harmony remains unwavering. Any remarks that threaten the social fabric of West Bengal will be met with strict measures," the party said in a post.
The remarks triggered a political storm, with opposition parties, particularly the BJP, accusing Hakim of attempting to stir communal sentiments.
BJP's West Bengal president and Union Minister of State for Education, Sukanta Majumdar, said, "This statement is not only divisive but also points towards creating a situation similar to Bangladesh. It is an open call to communal hatred."
Sources within the TMC said that the party's top brass expressed displeasure with Hakim's remarks, which came at a time when the party has been trying to counter the BJP's Hindutva politics.
Speaking informally to party colleagues, Hakim reportedly said his remarks were misinterpreted.
Hakim reportedly told party leaders that he was not speaking about a numerical majority. He was addressing the socio-economic backwardness of minorities and urging them to focus on education and skill development to become more empowered. He said he only meant that if minorities work hard and receive Allah's blessings, they can progress and gain respect in society, sources said.
Despite Hakim's clarification, the controversy has caused ripples within the TMC.
Political observers believe that the remarks have added to the challenges faced by the party, especially at a time when West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee has been projecting herself as a leader of inclusive governance by engaging with all communities.
Political analysts noted that Banerjee's recent efforts, such as overseeing the construction of a Jagannath temple in Digha, were aimed at countering the BJP's Hindutva narrative.
"Hakim's comments have complicated the party's messaging," a party functionary admitted on condition of anonymity.
On the sidelines of a programme on Sunday, Hakim had said, "I am a diehard secular and patriotic Indian. No one can question my secular values and love for my country. Period."
However, when approached by journalists on Monday, he refused to comment, saying, "I have nothing to say on this matter."
The BJP, on the other hand, has seized the opportunity to target the TMC.
Majumdar said, "Hakim's statement is an indication of implementing Sharia law in India. Such communal rhetoric is unacceptable and dangerous."
On Saturday, TMC state general secretary Kunal Ghosh had defended Hakim, saying his comments were misinterpreted.
"What he meant is the uplift of a large number of minority community members so they can join mainstream society and contribute to nation-building," Ghosh had said.
He further asserted that Hakim's secular and liberal values are well-known, and that he actively participates in various religious festivals while promoting communal harmony.
