Karnataka State Women’s Commission chairperson Nagalakshmi Choudhary on September 7, 2026, rebuked officials at Belagavi district hospital for substandard facilities, highlighting that the maternity ward has only a single toilet for pregnant women and that patients and attendants face cleanliness problems, while women in labor are forced to move between departments for paperwork and tests.
Choudhary urged medical officers to act immediately, stressing that providing a respectful, safe environment for women and expectant mothers is the staff’s duty and that health is a fundamental right.
She also warned that any harassment of women officers in government departments will not be tolerated and encouraged women facing issues to lodge complaints with the commission or police, promising strict legal action against offenders.
Members of the Movement for Gender and Sexual Pluralism submitted a memorandum demanding corrective action for basic facility gaps and administrative lapses across taluk hospitals, while Police Commissioner Prakash Nikkam, BIMS Hospital director Vinaya Dastikoppa, administrative officer Reshma Talikoti, district surgeon Jagadeesh and Local Medical Officer Saroja Thigadi attended the meeting.
