Pune:The Maharashtra govt has reconstituted the state-level committee formed in 2023 to investigate the racket involving unnecessary hysterectomy surgeries of female sugar cane cutters exposed in Beed district.Deputy chairperson of the legislative council Dr Neelam Gorhe said, “The definition of the scope of work for district-level committees will be expedited to ensure that the state-level committee functions with greater speed and effectiveness. Thedistrict-level committees will conduct inquiries to determine whether unnecessary hysterectomy surgeries were performed on female sugar cane cutters in private hospitals across the state over the last three years.“In 2023, a racket involving the removal of uteruses of female sugar cane cutters was exposed in Beed district. At that time, a state-level committee was formed and that has now been reconstituted.Gorhe directed the committee to suggest measures to curb such unnecessary surgeries and to formulate an annual schedule for its activities.Director of health services Dr Vijay Kandewad said, “The department has undertaken the task of delivering healthcare services to approximately one lakh female sugar cane cutters. Along with them, about 5,000 children accompany the workers who migrate from 17 districts across the state for sugar cane harvesting. A separate meeting will be organised to address measures regarding the health and education of the children as well as provision of menstrual hygiene products and sanitary napkins to the women.“
