KEONJHAR (Odisha): A tribal woman who is a mother of 11 children was driven out of the house in Odisha's Keonjhar district by her husband for undergoing a tubectomy operation, a permanent method of contraception, against his wish.
Janaki Dehury, along with some of her children, has been staying outside the house in Dimiria village after being thrown out of the home by her husband three days ago.
The woman decided to go for a tubectomy after being convinced by a local ASHA worker about the adverse impact of giving birth to children every year.
She has given birth to 11 children in 11 years of her marriage, though one of them died.
"It is very embarrassing to get pregnant every year while my children are growing up. Though many of our village women had gone for the operation, my husband does not understand and he drove me out of the house," Janaki said.
Her husband Rabi, on the other hand, claimed that his wife has committed a crime by undergoing the sterilisation process.
"We belong to the Bhuyan community. According to the belief in the community, our forefathers will not get water if women undergo the operation. I am strongly opposed to such an operation," Rabi Dehury said.
ASHA worker Bijaylaxmi Biswal who persuaded Janaki to go for the surgery said that frequent pregnancies are taking a toll on her health.
She has become too weak to handle any more pregnancy, Biswal said adding that it will also be difficult for the family to raise 10 children.
Alleging that Rabi has been threatening to kill her as she convinced her to opt for the surgery, Biswal said he fails to understand the health condition of his wife.
"Not only me, anyone trying to talk to him about the issue becomes his target," Biswal said.
Meanwhile, the health officer Dr Pritisah Acharya of Telkoi hospital is making efforts to convince Rabi about the situation and accept his wife.