Even as the Planning Commission on Wednesday strongly backed its decision to nominate human rights activist Binayak Sen on its steering committee on health, there was a loud note of disapproval from the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh, who questioned the rational behind the appointment as he was still facing trial. “The people of Chhattisgarh do not approve of the appointment,’’ he said.
“The issues that we would tackle in the 12th Five Year Plan are extremely important including children’s health in the tribal areas. Since Dr. Sen has worked with the poorest of the poor, his contribution would be useful,’’ Syeda Hameed, Member, Planning Commission, who chairs the steering committee on health told The Hindu here.
Confirming Dr. Sen’s appointment as member of the steering committee on health to advice for 12th Plan, Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwali told reporters that it was Planning Commission's proposal to appoint him.
However, the Commission is yet to get a formal acceptance from Dr. Sen, though informally it has been confirmed that he would accept the appointment and it was a matter of time before he did that.
“We are bringing the best brains together from across the country to formulate policies to tackle issues like malnutrition, Infant Mortality Rate and Maternal Mortality Rate, and our feeling was that Dr. Sen would help us in this,’’ Dr. Hameed said. The first meeting of the steering committee is scheduled for May 26.
The 61-year old rights activist, a pediatrician, has worked in Chhattisgarh's tribal belt. He has been sentenced to life imprisonment on charges of sedition and links with Naxalites. However, the Supreme Court granted him bail in April, after which he was released from Raipur Jail.
Meanwhile, questioning the rationale behind the selection, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh said Dr. Sen was still facing trial in the Chhattisgarh High Court. “He has not been absolved of the charges by the court, but just given bail,’’ Dr. Singh told reporters here.
Pointing out that generally for such appointments a proper procedure is followed, including scrutiny of the antecedents of the individual, Dr. Singh said: “Is there such a dearth of experts in the country that the Centre had to take the advice of a person accused of sedition? The people of Chhattisgarh do not approve of this,” he added.
