This story is from February 22, 2020

Surat strip shame: Why pregnancy tests when no such rules exist?

A day after TOI reported about probationary women clerks for Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) posts being stripped and subjected to ‘mandatory’ pregnancy tests, the state government officials categorically stated that there are no provisions for any such medical examination for females.
Surat strip shame: Why pregnancy tests when no such rules exist?
File photo of SMIMER hospital in Surat
SURAT/GANDHINAGAR: A day after TOI reported about probationary women clerks for Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) posts being stripped and subjected to ‘mandatory’ pregnancy tests, the state government officials categorically stated that there are no provisions for any such medical examination for females.
Kamal Dayani, principal secretary, general administration department (GAD), personnel, told TOI: "It’s a very shocking and an unfortunate incident.
The general recruitment rules mandate only basic medical tests for all candidates. These don’t include gynecology or pregnancy tests.''

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At least 100 women were allegedly made to stand naked in groups of 10 for physical examination and some even alleged they were subjected to humiliating finger test for pregnancy check on Thursday. The tests were conducted at Surat Municipal Institute of Medical Education and Research (SMIMER).
"Privacy during basic medical test is also a must. One cannot force any woman candidate to undertake the tests in a group,'' Dayani asserted.

On Thursday, Ashwin Vachhani, head of the gynaecology department, SMIMER, had said physical examination of women was mandatory as per the guidelines to ascertain if they had any specific illness. His cell phone was switched off when TOI tried contacting him on Friday.
Dr Vandana Desai, superintendent, SMIMER, said, "There are no specific government guidelines about fitness test, but majority of the doctors follow the protocol that is commonly practised in all the government medical colleges. In this case, the women must have been tested as per the requirements to check their complete fitness.”
Meanwhile, Surat municipal commissioner Banchhanidhi Pani constituted a three-member committee of women to probe the incident and submit a report within 15 days. The members of the committee are Kalpana Desai, former dean of SMIMER, Gayatri Jariwala, assistant municipal commissioner, SMC and Trupti Kalathariya, executive engineer.
“Action will be taken based on the committee’s report,” Pani told TOI.
The Surat Municipal Corporation Employees Union (SMCEU) had raised the issue with the municipal commissioner and health department after women found the methodology of the tests extremely humiliating. The tests have been going on for the last fortnight.
The issue even got a political hue with local Congress workers in Surat barging into SMIMER and sitting on a dharna, demanding that the enquiry report should be out in three days and not fortnight.
TIMES IMPACT:
GSCW orders suo motu enquiry
Gujarat State Commission for Women (GSCW) ordered a suo motu enquiry while National Commission for Women (NCW) condemned the incident as ‘shameful.’ GSCW chairperson Leela Ankoliya said that the commission has asked SMC to submit an inquiry report as early as possible.
"This should not happen to any woman, and if these type of tests are done, it is indeed shocking. Courts have also prohibited such tests. We will take further action after examining the SMC report," Ankoliya told TOI.
"Given our advancement in technology, there are alternate and respectable methods to medically examine women," Ankoliya added.
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