Measures for Curbing Incidents of foeticide

The Government has adopted a multi-pronged strategy to curb female foeticide in the country. It includes awareness generation and legislative measures as well as programmes for socio-economic empowerment of women. Some of the measures are:

·         For prohibition of sex selection, before and after conception, and for regulation of prenatal diagnostic techniques, the Government has enacted a comprehensive legislation, the Pre-conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act in 1994. It was further amended in 2003.

·         The Government have intensified effective implementation of the said Act and amended various rules covering provision for sealing and seizure and confiscation of unregistered machines and punishment against unregistered clinics. Regulation of use of portable ultrasound equipment has been notified only within the registered premises has been notified. Restriction on medical practitioners to conduct ultrasonography at maximum of two ultrasound facilities within a district has been placed. Registration fees have been enhanced. Rules have been amended to provide for advance intimation in change in employees, place, address or equipment. 

·         Hon’ble Minister of Health and Family Welfare has requested all the State Governments to strengthen implementation of the Act and timely steps to stop use of illegal sex determination.

·         Hon’ble Prime Minister has urged the Chief Ministers of all States to provide personal leadership to reverse the declining trend inchild sex ratio and address the neglect of the girl child through focus on education and empowerment.

·         Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has intensified efforts to exhort the States and UTs to pay utmost attention to serious implementation of the Act.

·         The Central Supervisory Board (CSB) under the PNDT Act has been reconstituted and regular meetings are being held.

·         Matter has been taken up with Ministry of communication and information technology to block sex selection advertisements on websites.

·         The National Inspection and Monitoring Committee (NIMC) have been reconstituted and inspections of ultrasound diagnostic facilities have been intensified. Inspections have been carried out in many states including Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh.

·         The Government is rendering financial support to the States and UTs for Information, Education and Communication campaigns and for strengthening structures for the implementation of the Act under the National Rural Health Mission.

·         States have been advised to focus on Districts/Blocks/Villages with low Child Sex Ratio to ascertain the causes, plan appropriate Behaviour Change Communication campaigns and effectively implement provisions of the PC & PNDT Act.

·         Religious leaders, women achievers etc. are being involved in the campaign against skewed child sex ratio and discrimination of the girl child.

The Government of India as well as many State Governments implement specific schemes for enhancing the status and value of girl child and women in the society. Some of these schemes such as Dhanalaskhmi deals with conditional cash transfers.