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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