Dhumal writes to health minister,assures PNDT Act implementation

In his response to a letter written by Union Health Minister to the state chief ministers showing his concern on practice of sex-determination and pre-natal tests in some parts of the country,Dhumal said he would be personally reviewing the the enforcement law to ensure that there were no violations.

Dhumal informed that Himachal had completely banned the sex determination tests making the same a cognizable offence and all clinics carrying such tests have been closed down. Further,the government had launched an ambitious scheme ‘Beti Hai Anmol’ to sensitise people about the decreasing population of girl child causing population imbalances and creating socio-cultural problems.

“Under the programme,a sum of Rs 5,100 is deposited in the name of new born girl child at the time of her birth for disbursement with interest on attaining the age of 18 years. The government is also providing special development grant to the gram panchayats with highest population of girl child. Mukhya Mantri Kanyadaan Yojna,Mother Teresa Matri Shakti Sambal Yojna,Matri Shakti Bima Yojna are some of other schemes aimed at women empowerment,” he said.

Dhumal said that government would implement the PNDT Act vigorously and check any sex determination test sternly. There is also a provision of providing cash prizes to any individual leading to information with regard to carrying of sex determination test.

CM returns tomorrow

Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal will return to Shimla on Thursday after over a weeklong stay in New Delhi. He was admitted at AIIMS following urinary tract infection and fever. Dhumal has already started working from his camp office at Himachal Sadan and is in contact touch with senior officials including Chief Secretary Rajwant Sandhu and his Principal Secretary Ajay Mittal.