Noose to tighten around hospitals holding sex determination tests

Pre-natal Diagnostic Test committee headed by District Collector Vijay Nehra, while embarking on Beti Bachao Andolan this week, declared to tighten the noose around city-based hospitals encouraging sex determination in Vadodara.

Pre-natal Diagnostic Test (PNDT) committee headed by District Collector Vijay Nehra, while embarking on Beti Bachao Andolan this week, declared to tighten the noose around city-based hospitals encouraging sex determination in Vadodara.

He announced to set up an efficient software system in hospitals to keep a tab on how they deal with pregnant women. Spy cameras will also be set up to keep a check on them.

Addressing mediapersons, Nehra said the PNDT committee is going to be stricter with gynaecologists and ultra sonography services. A meeting with gynecologists will also be held, he said.

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Though things are at a preliminary stage at present, more rigorous steps will be taken soon, he said. This year, around Rs 10 lakh will be spent from the MPs’ fund to spread the message of ‘Save the Girl Child’.

From this week, the district health department will embark on week-long public awareness programmes asking people to come for mass swearing-in ceremonies against female foeticide with female sex ratio dipping drastically and becoming a serious social problem.

Nehra warned, “Female foeticide is a non-bailable offense. It is difficult to nab the offenders without evidence, but the PNDT committee is going to get tough with them.”

Jayaben Thakkar, MP from Vadodara, said: “It is interesting that in tribal areas, the female sex ratio is much more than in the urban areas of Vadodara.”