Odisha doc in dock for beating up ANMs in Rayagada

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Muniguda, Feb 1:

As many as six women health workers of Chandrapur community health centre (CHC) in Odisha’s Rayagada district were on Saturday admitted to Muniguda CHC after they were allegedly beaten up by a senior doctor of the health centre.

The medical officer in-charge of the CHC Dr Sanjib Kumar Behera reportedly thrashed the six health workers working as auxiliary nursing midwife (ANMs) for their failure to furnish monthly reports.

During the monthly review meeting held at the Chandrapur CHC, the medical officer sought monthly reports from the health workers.

The six ANMs reportedly responded by saying they had not furnished their monthly reports in protest against the fact that they had not been paid their salaries for the last five months.

On hearing the response, the medical officer allegedly lost his cool and abused and beat them up.

The injured ANMs were admitted to Muniguda CHC where they are undergoing treatment under Dr Ajay Kumar Sahu.

The injured have been identified as: Sujata Mishra (Hanumantpur ANM), Hiramani Mandangi (Beramuguda ANM), Krishnaveni Beura (Budubali ANM), Chhayabati Satapathy (Bijapur ANM), Manjula Panda (Dangasorada ANM) and Droupadi Hikka (Tinapadar ANM).

While the chief district medical officer (CDMO) Dr Anand Padhi did not respond to calls, the medical officer’s cell phone was found switched off.

Muniguda SDPO Anant Prasad Mallick is investigating the matter.

The police have registered a case under sections 354, 294 and 310 of SC/ST Atrocities Act against the doctor who allegedly attacking the female health workers.

Meanwhile, the ADMO, Rayagada has begun a departmental probe into the incident, official sources said.