Aadhaar Is Proving Lethal

We, the concerned people’s health movements, health networks, women’s groups and individuals vehemently condemn the denial of any health and allied services, access to public distribution system (PDS) or any other schemes that enhance social security for want of an Aadhaar identity. This is extremely arbitrary and a gross violation of the right to life and dignity.

A 28-year-old woman who was pregnant with her fourth child sought an abortion from a well-known government hospital in Chandigarh. She was denied an abortion and turned away as she could not produce an Aadhaar card or any other government-issued proof of identity in her name, which was required, according to the hospital, for an ultrasonography (USG). She was also denied an oral abortifacient, in the absence of the USG by another government facility. She was then advised to go to a private diagnostic centre which she could not afford. Further, health facilities were unwilling to provide abortion without the consent of the husband, something that is not a requirement according to the law. The series of denials forced her to seek abortion from an unqualified healthcare provider, which resulted in severe bleeding, endangering her life and necessitated hospitalisation and blood transfusion.