Bhopal: Congress MLA alleges breach of privacy in pregnancy tests conducted on young women under mass marriage scheme

Congress MLA alleges breach of privacy as pregnancy tests were conducted on young women during a mass marriage scheme in Dindori.

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Congress MLA Omkar Singh Markam has accused officials of conducting pregnancy tests on young women during the registration verification process for the Mukhyamantri Kanyadan Mass Marriage Scheme in Dindori. The incident occurred in Gadasarai town of Bajag district on April 22, during which 219 couples from four districts got married under the scheme. The district administration disqualified four young women after they were found to be pregnant in the tests, despite there being no provision for such inquiries in the scheme. Markam has condemned the conduct of check-ups during mass marriage programs as an insult to young women and called for an investigation into the matter. State Congress President Kamal Nath has also demanded the strictest punishment for those found guilty, calling it not just a case of pregnancy testing, but also of malicious attitude towards women. However, Collector Vikas Mishra has denied the allegations, stating that the tests were conducted to check for sickle cell anemia. The Joint Director of the Social Justice Department has also clarified that there is no provision for any kind of investigation in the scheme, and it is necessary to have an eligibility age for marriage.