Dipping child sex ratio: officials offer incentives

In all,94 cases of violation of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Determination of Techniques (PC-PNDT) Act — 12 are from Pune,19 from Ahmednagar,12 from Solapur,nine from Satara and remaining from other districts — are pending in the court. However,not much has been done to expedite these cases.

“While we are urging for a fast track court,proposals have been sent to the government to enlist social workers to examine the scores of ‘F’ forms maintained by every gynaecologist,says Dr S S Ambekar,assistant health officer,State Family Welfare Bureau.

Dr D D Chandakkar,deputy health officer,Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC),admits that it is difficult to find decoys willing to take up the job. Social workers are likely to be enlisted by offering them a cash incentive of Rs 5 for inspecting one ‘F’ form.

Dr Sanjay Gupte,president of the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Society of India (FOGSI),said at Baramati,a huge rally ‘Save the girl child’ was held recently and more than 10,000 students participated. Here,the child sex ratio has dipped from 870 girls per 1000 boys in 2001 to 865 girls per 1000 boys in 2009.

The Federation has also set up a DOST (doctors opposing sex determination selection ) cell and have urged the medical community to avail of this facility to inform them about malpractices.