Two Dalit Women Die After Being Thrown Out of Hospital for Failing to Pay Bribe

[JM]

After giving birth, two Dalit women died when they were thrown out of a government hospital in India because of their inability to pay an additional bribe.

According to the Salem Voice News Service (SVM News), the incident occurred on Nov. 1 in Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh.

Devorati, 25, who gave birth to a boy on Thurs. evening, was the first to die. Her husband Dilip had admitted her to the government hospital after bribing an official with about $13.00.

This payment occurred despite the fact that admission to hospitals is meant to be free, and women coming to deliver a child whose income is under the poverty level are supposed to get a government benevolence of about $37.00.

SVM reported that the situation was compounded when the hospital asked Dilip to pay more money.

"Soon after childbirth, the medical staff demanded ($26.00). When I said I had no money, they threw out my wife despite the fact that she was bleeding and had not regained consciousness," Dilip told SVM News.

Dilip took Devorati and their baby back to his village, but her condition deteriorated rapidly and she soon died.

Three hours later, SVM reported, Kamla, wife of Ramprakash of Ambarpur village, was also thrown out of the hospital right after giving birth to a baby girl when her family members refused to pay a bribe of $13.00, and asked for their government allowance.

Furious about the women's deaths, SVM News reported that villagers went to the hospital and beat up some of the staff.

An official told SVM that he had received complaints about doctors demanding bribes, and an inquiry is pending.

Paul Ciniraj, president of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India, and Director of Salem Voice Ministries, condemned the brutality shown toward the Dalit women.

The incident is especially shameful in Uttar Pradesh, he said, where a Dalit woman called Mayavati is the Chief Minister.

Ciniraj said, "Where do we have to go for justice? Don't we have a right to live here? Attacks (against) Christians, Dalits and other minorities (are on the increase) throughout India. Priests, pastors, missionaries, evangelists and (other) believers (are being ) murdered, beaten, abducted and jailed. Women are being raped. Churches and institutions (are being) ... vandalized and demolished. The authorities and the police are joining hand in hand in many places with the attackers."

Salem Voice Ministries ministers the gospel and provides relief services in India and third world countries.