Between 2008 and March 2012, the Centre, under its Family Planning Insurance Scheme, had to pay compensation for botched sterilisation procedures which included 438 cases of complications, 18,887 failure cases and 675 death cases.

In 2012, the Ministry of Health informed the Lok Sabha that between 2009 and 2012, families of 568 women had to be paid compensation after they died during or post sterilisation surgeries.

Statistics show despite female sterilisation being invasive, more time consuming and involving more risks, the government has failed to encourage male sterilisation, which is less intrusive, needs little post-operative care and is safer.

Citing this data, activists and health care professionals are demanding that the Centre should now focus on male sterilisation and expand the bouquet of temporary contraception.

Poonam Muttreja, executive director of Population Foundation of India said there is a need to review the family planning programmes and also wean away from the practice of giving incentives for meeting targets.

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