Crackdown on pre-natal sex-tests violators on cards

BATALA, May 20: The Punjab government has decided to crackdown on those conducting sex determination tests and create imbalance in the male-...

BATALA, May 20: The Punjab government has decided to crackdown on those conducting sex determination tests and create imbalance in the male-female ratio in the state.

In Punjab, a State Advisory Committee has been constituted under the Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (regulation and prevention of misuse) Act 1994, and the Punjab Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (control and regulation) Act, 1994.

Director of Health Services and Family Welfare Dr Jassi, who has been appointed as the authority by the government for the effective implementation of both these Acts told this correspondent that the male- female ratio in the state was 1000:882 respectively. For every 1,000 males, the number of females in Amritsar, Bhatinda and Faridkot was 861, 863 and 865 respectively.

Dr. Jassi expressed deep concern over the “very disturbing” sex ratio in the state. He asked the members to go in for mobilization of a strong public opinion against the misuse of pre-natal determination test facilities which were meant for genetic counselling and protection of both the mother and the child.

Dr. Jassi announced that a network for prosecuting violaters of the Act had been evolved and a campaign would be started on war-footing to get the guilty punished.

The committee consists of gynecologists, child specialists, media persons and social activists recommended to the State Appropriate Authority (SAA) to launch a series of awareness and social mobilization campaigns in the state from June to raise the social status of the girl child.

Under the statute, from January 1, 1996, it is illegal to use pre-natal diagnostic technique like ultra-sonography etc to determine and communicate the sex of the foetus. There are punishments for violation of the Act and the use of pre-natal diagnostic techniques is allowed only for detecting certain abnormalities subject to the fulfillment of specific conditions mentioned in the Act.

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Besides, pre-natal diagnostic techniques can be conducted and genetic counselling can be offered only by genetic clinics, genetic laboratories and genetic counselling centres registered under the Act.

Nearly 1,000 clinics having pre-natal diagnostic test facilities exist in the the state. All of them are running illegally in violation of the Act.

This imbalance in the sex ratio is capable of creating problems like rapes, other sexual violations and low number of girls to be brides in the state.