Question : Female Foeticide


Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) the details of steps being taken by the Government to check female foeticide in the country, State/UT-wise including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Rajasthan;

(b) the number of illegal pre-natal sex determination centres identified during the last three years in the country, State/UT-wise, district-wise and the action taken against such centres;

(c) whether such illegal pre-natal sex determination centres have been banned, if so, the details thereof;

(d) the steps taken by the Government to spread awareness among the public against this social menace;

(e) whether the Government has received any complaints against doctors, nurses and other Government staff for running private nursing homes or hospitals or working there; and

(f) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government thereon along with the number of doctors suspended or removed from the service?

Answer given by the minister

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a): In view of the declining Child Sex Ratio and Sex Ratio at Birth the Government of India enacted the Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994 and Rules thereof. The Act prohibits the misuse of Pre-natal diagnostic techniques for determination of sex of the foetus leading to female foeticide and regulates the use of pre-conception and pre-natal diagnostic techniques for the purpose of detecting genetic malformations or sex-linked disorders. The Government of India is taking followings steps /initiatives to ensure the effective implementation of the PC&PNDT Act, 1994 in the Sates/ UTs including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Rajasthan :

• Regular monitoring of diagnostic Centres/Clinics/ Labs through visits of Inspection and Monitoring Committees
• Regular Review of implementation of the law at the National/State /District level
• Capacity building of implementing officers and sensitisation of public prosecutors
• Creating awareness through advocacy measures and Information Education and Communication (IEC) campaigns towards building a positive environment for the Girl Child
• Mechanisms are formulated at the National/ State level to monitor illegal e-advertisement for sex –selection on internet
• Rendering financial support to the States/UTs for strengthening implementation of the Act
• Efforts are taken to enhance convergence with the Scheme Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP)

Details of initiatives undertaken is at Annexure-I

(b) & (c): As per the information received from the States/UTs, number of Centres conducting illegal pre-natal sex determination identified during the last three years are as under:
S. No. State Centres
1. Rajasthan 12
2. Chhattisgarh 03
3. J & K 01
4. Uttarakhand 16
5. Telangana 10
6. Jharkhand 01
7. Punjab 23
8. Gujarat 6
9. Haryana 166
10. Maharashtra 5
11. Andhra Pradesh 2
12. Karnataka 10
13. Uttar Pradesh 52
14. Tamil Nadu 9

All these centres conducting illegal pre-natal sex determination are sealed and registration under the PC&PNDT Act is suspended by District Appropriate Authorities (DAA). Subsequently, DAA file court cases against such clinics under the relevant provisions of the PC&PNDT Act.




Since, inception, till December, 2019 (As per Quarterly Progress Report (QPR) received from the states/ UTs), a total of 2,261 ultrasound machines have been sealed and seized, registration of 9413 centres have been suspended/ cancelled. Total of 3,092 ongoing court cases all over the country filed by the District Appropriate Authorities (DAA) for violation of the law. Further, a total of 607 convictions have been secured and medical licenses of 142 doctors have been suspended/ cancelled following conviction.

(d): Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities are carried out regularly through print, electronic and mass media at the National/ States /UTs level. States have been directed to plan appropriate behaviour change communication campaigns and widely disseminate information on the provisions of the PC &PNDT Act and Rules thereof.

Awareness is also generated through, social media platforms of twitter, facebook and You Tube. Details of various IEC activities carried out are at Annexure: II

(e) & (f): As per the information received from the States/UTs, complaints received against Government doctors, for running private nursing homes or hospitals are as under:
States/ UTs No. Of Doctors Action Taken
J & K 01 FIR filed
Telangana 07 Suspended
Maharashtra 08 4 Charge sheeted and action against 4 under process
Andhra Pradesh 01 Suspended


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