(a) whether the Government propose to amend Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 to curb illegal abortions in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the time by which the Bill in this regard is likely to be introduced in the Parliament?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI A. RAJA)
(a) to (c) Government is taking steps to introduce the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act (Amendment) Bill-2002, in the present session of the Parliament. The amendments seek to (a) delegate powers to a committee headed by the Chief Medical Officer/District Health Officer at district level for registration of private clinics; (b) prescribe punishment of rigorous imprisonment of not less than 2 years which may extend to seven years for clinics which are not approved for conducting MTPs and also for persons who do not possess the qualifications, training and experience for conducting Medical Termination of Pregnancy as prescribed under the MTP Rules and (c) substitute the expression lunatic with mentally ill person to bring it in tune with the Mental Health Act-1987.
The amendments are intended to make safe abortion services easily accessible to the public and to discourage illegal abortions.