Journalism of Courage
In view of the declining child sex ratio (CSR) it diped by 30 points from 913 in 2001 to 883 in 2011 the drive against sonography centres to prevent any sex determination tests will continue. Following the Census shocker,the State Appropriate Authority at the family welfare bureau had started a large-scale inspection of all sonography centres as per provisions of the Pre Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act and sealed 273 of them. We will continue the drive,said Dr Suresh Gupta,additional director,Family Welfare bureau.
The drive started on June 13,in Beed district. Till July 15,a total of 6,174 sonography centres have been inspected. Similarly. a total 2,041 Medical Termination of Pregnancy MTP centres have been inspected and recognition of 75 centres has been withdrawn.
The initiative was taken from the highest decision-making level in the State and it was decided to ensure that strict action should be taken against those centres and doctors who are indulging in sex determination and sex selective abortions. A meeting of the State Supervisory Board constituted under PCPNDT Act was held in Beed (the district with highest decline of 93 points in CSR) and many resolutions were passed to curb the violations.
The PCPNDT Act has authorised the appropriate authorities in the state for inspection of sonography centres,genetic counseling centres,genetic laboratories or genetic clinics.
Various provisions under which the sonography machines were sealed in the current drive include improper maintenance of records,non submission of reports,incomplete F-forms,presence of unregistered sonography machine,conduct of sonography by unregistered/unauthorised doctors,non-display of the mandatory instructions under PCPNDT Act and several other breaches of the Act. Decoy cases have been conducted against some centres and are being planned through out the State to curb the menace of sex determination and sex selective abortions. Action would be taken against doctors who violate provisions of the PCPNDT Act. Doctors conducting sonography are also requested to cooperate with the authorities as far as inspection of the centres is concerned. In case they have any grievances,they are requested to contact the State Appropriate Authority on 020-26058996. The authority has also urged the general public to inform the State Appropriate Authority of any illegal sex determination practices. Complaints can be lodged on 18002334475. There is a provision for extending award of Rs 25,000 for the decoy case as well as those who inform about the illegal sex determination practices in the State subject to certain conditions.
