Seventeen people, who lost their sight following allegedly botched cataract surgeries, have demanded that the state give them a total of ₹10 lakh in aid.

They have also demanded that the government fast track the case against Seva Niketan Trust's Ramanand Eye Hospital located in Ahmedabad district’s Mandal taluka where the allegedly botched surgeries took place on Jan 10.

The supplicants, who were accompanied by activists as they arrived in Gandhinagar on July 29,  allege that the doctors showed criminal negligence in  performing the 17 surgeries despite being ill-equipped to do so.

“We are demanding that Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel decide, in his next cabinet meeting, to pay ₹10 lakh assistance to all 17 patients. The doctors used stainless steel equipment for our surgeries. This gross negligence has cost 17 of us our sight. We are now suffering irreparably, due to a permanent loss of vision. The state must compensate for our losses,” the letter addressed to health minister Rushikesh Patel states.

It also says that no serious  action is being taken in the case registered on Feb 2 against 11 persons including the trustee of hospitals at the Mandal police station under IPC sections 337, 338 and 114.

Other demands include: 

Legal Assistance: Appointment of Special Public Prosecutors for their case.

Fast-Track Court: Expedited legal proceedings.

Hospital Closure: Permanent cancellation of the hospital's registration and closure of Ramanand Eye Hospital.

Activist Kirit Rathod, who accompanied the 17 supplicants to the Secretariat in Gandhinagar, said: “This is injustice! The victims have registered police complaints against the accused, but the state isn’t doing anything for them. Our local MLA Hardik Patel is well aware of the situation, but has not been willing or able to help. So we have now come here, seeking justice from the Department of Health and Family Welfare of the state government.”