|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DOCTORS
DEMANDING SEN'S RELEASE ARRESTED |
|
|
|
Pune, April 7, 2009: Activists from Pune were
arrested while conducting a peaceful ‘Satya-graha’ to
demand the release of Dr. Binayak Sen. A day before the
World Health Day on April 7, doctors, health
activists,food rights activists and social activists
from various parts of the country converged in Raipur on
Monday to join the Satyagraha with the demand — ‘Allow
the people’s doctor to work for people’s health -
Release Dr. Binayak Sen’.
Dr. Sen (57) was arrested on May 14, 2007. He was in the
forefront to oppose Salwa Judum, the government's plan
to arm locals against Naxals. Prior to his arrest Sen
was dealing with challenging public health problems in
Chhattisgarh. Dr Sen, a trained paediatrician, was
working with poor tribal people in Chhattisgarh, when he
was detained. He was also a senior member of the local
unit of a leading Indian human rights group, the
People's Union for Civil Liberties.
A year ago, Dr Sen was awarded the prestigious Jonathan
Mann Award for Global Health and Human Rights for his
services to poor and tribal communities and his
unwavering commitment to civil liberties and human
rights.
Dr Sen, 56, trained in medicine and paediatrics at
India's prestigious Christian Medical College in Vellore
and picked up a gold medal for his efforts. Later
specialising in social medicine and community health, he
moved to Chhattisgarh in 1981, and began working with
the leading mine workers' trade union leader, Shankar
Guha Niyogi.
The two set up a hospital for mine workers after raising
money from the community - the Shaheed Hospital in
Dallirajhara is still cited as an example of a
pioneering health initiative in India for the poor.
The doctor received a paltry salary of 600 rupees ($15)
a month, and helped the facility grow from a small
clinic to a 60-bed hospital in four years.
In the early 1990s, Dr Sen and his wife, Ilina, set up
Rupantar, a non-governmental organisation training rural
health workers, running mobile clinics and campaigns
against alcohol abuse and violence against women.
Dr Sen's efforts in public health programmes, say local
doctors, helped bringing down the infant mortality rate
in the state and deaths caused by diarrhoea and
dehydration.
He has also expressed his deep concern over rising
inequality in India despite the economic boom. "We have
to strive for more inclusive growth. You cannot create
two categories of people," he told a journalist.
"There is a Malthusian process of exclusion going on in
the country. Everybody must wake up to this, otherwise
soon it will be too late.”
His wife, Ilina, says the fight to release her husband
goes beyond the man himself. "I realise this goes beyond
Binayak and my family. We are part of a much larger
fight. We are struggling for the right to dissent
peacefully. Our commitment to that gives me strength." (ENS
& sources)
|
|
|
|
|
This page
is updated on April 20, 2009 |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
PRAISE THE ALMIGHTY
10 YEARS CELEBRATION
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
