Many women from Beed district are without wombs. To prevent cancer and get relief from the menstruation pain, the women sugarcane-cutter from Beed district prefers to undergo hysterectomy surgery. In a meet organised in the city, women who underwent hysterectomy surgery stated that they willingly underwent surgery to get rid off the monthly pain which will help them not to take leave during the heavy bleeding. One of the few of reasons also included lack of basic facilities such as toilet at farm sites, and the imposition of Rs 1000 fine per day if they take an off. "We earn around Rs 30,000 to Rs 35,000 every season (five to six months a year). During heavy bleeding if we take an off, we are fined Rs 1000, which is not affordable for people like us," said Asha Shinde. According to a state government data, around 56 women have undergone a hysterectomy in Beed this year of which 85% were operated in a private hospital. Last year's percentage stood at 36% out of 200 women. A 28-year-old Asha Baba Jogdand, a resident of Kasari, was married when she was 13 years. She delivered three children when she was 18 years after which she underwent tubectomy. "I had taken a loan of Rs 30,000 from the contractor for hysterectomy operation. The contractor deducts the loan amount with a 5% interest in instalments from our salary," said Jogdand. Manisha Tokle, from Mahila Kisan Adhikaar Manch, an NGO helping these women, said, "Just like Shinde there are many women whose surgery has not been recorded officially. A committee must be set up to investigate the matter. The sugarcane-cutter women have been facing a lot of issues related to wages, safety issues and are deprived of basic livelihood facilities such as drinking water, health services, mobile clinics, ration etc." She added, "Contractors should be held responsible for ensuring availability of these services for workers. Board of sugar factories should ensure a safe and secure work environment for women workers."The state government should conduct clinical audits of every hospital in Beed where hysterectomy is conducted," said Dr Abhijit More, health expert, co-convenor of the Jan Arogya Abhiyaan.

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