Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram
Tags:
Journalism of Courage
To check illegal sex determination,Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has approved setting aside funds in the 2012-13 civic budget for installation of active trackers in ultra-sound machines at all maternity centres and hospitals in Mumbai. The allocation was okayed by municipal commissioner Sitaram Kunte on Saturday.
The active tracker is an improvised version of th’ silent observer first introduced in Kolhapur. The device,which is externally connected to a sonography machine,captures all video images on its monitor continuously. The data are stored on a portal to be used as evidence in cases of sex-selective abortions.
Ten months after installing active trackers at sonography centres in Kolhapur,a team appointed to look into the efficacy of the device had,however,said in February this year that there has was no significant change in the sex ratio at birth in the area.
BMC first showed interest in introducing the system of online submission of forms by radiologists in September last year. Mumbai has 1,350 prenatal imaging centres,mostly privately run. They have to comply with provisions of Pre-Conception and Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques Act,which prohibits sex determination of foetus.
Six months after the 2012-2013 budget of Rs.26,581 crore was tabled by former municipal commissioner Subodh Kumar,it was passed by the BMC general body around 3.30 am on Saturday with a few modifications and new initiatives.
Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram
