The last census had proved an eye-opener. It revealed that the sex ratio of the population in the 0-6 age group had declined in 10 years from 945 to 927 which, in turn, pointed to the widespread practice of female foeticide despite legislation banning it. This disturbing trend had provoked a Mumbai-based health organisation to file a public interest litigation before the Supreme Court which had led to an unprecedented series of court orders over the last two years aimed primarily at curbing the illegal use of ultrasound facilities for sex determination. The concern was reiterated by the Supreme Court in its final order on Wednesday, when it directed the Centre and state governments to “strictly monitor” the illegal activities of ultrasound diagnostic clinics to prevent female foeticide. But will this happen? The experience of the recent past does not allow for any complacency on this score. Indeed, even after the medical community had attempted self-regulation through campaigns launched by the Indian Medical Association and the Medical Council of India, precious little was achieved. The fact is sex determination is an extremely lucrative business that can, besides, be conducted discreetly. There are reports of diagnosticians providing mobile service by taking their ultrasound machines to far-flung villages in their cars. Cracking down on this will, therefore, require a sharp eye and a firm hand and the state’s regulatory authorities have not given much evidence of either. The Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques Act is not the most efficacious of laws but even the mechanisms it provides, like the constitution of district level advisory committees to monitor the situation on the ground, have not been put in place. Lethargy is the enemy of change. Before we talk of curbing female foeticide, we need perhaps to search for ways to energise our army of administrators. The apex court was only stating the obvious when it made the connection between female foeticide and the poor status of the girl child. But the complexity of the big picture must not lead to the neglect of more modest but useful measures like the effective regulation of ultrasound technology. The Supreme Court has spoken. If Census 2011 is not to register an even steeper decline in India’s child sex ratio we need to act now.
