Inclusion Daily Express -- Government Supports Sterilizing Women To Ease Staff Inconvenience

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Government Supports Sterilizing Women To Ease Staff Inconvenience
By Dave Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express
January 31, 2008

MUMBAI, INDIA--Disability rights groups are challenging a position taken by the Maharashtra state government that suggests that girls and women with intellectual disabilities housed in state-run institutions should be surgically sterilized.

According to Daily News and Analysis, the government's support of mandatory hysterectomies is based on the belief that women with low IQs "have no sense of hygiene during menstruation".

And, while the government's January 18 affidavit on the issue reportedly mentions that such poor hygiene can lead to infections or anemia, a recurring reason given is the inconvenience that staff at the state's five institutions experience when the women have their menstrual periods.

"We are challenging these guidelines," said Anand Grover, a lawyer that represents activist Anand Phadke, who wants the High Court to protect the 300 women housed in the facilities from sterilizations that are performed because of staff convenience or misperceptions.

Related:
"Hysterectomies the answer: Govt" (Daily News & Analysis)
http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1148030

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