District Task Forces to be set up to implement PCPNDT Act

Dr Suresh Gupta,Additional Director,State Family Welfare Bureau,said strict inspections of the sonography centres will continue while the district task forces will be set up. They will assess the performance of the appropriate authority who has to implement the PCPNDT Act. A monthly meeting will be held to assess the performance,Dr M Ahiwale,assistant medical officer added. A proposal has also been submitted to the state government to offer a cash incentive of Rs 25,000 to informers providing details about doctors indulging in sex selection.

Meanwhile,the Indian Medical Association,Pune branch has formed a three member committee of past presidents to look into the charges levelled against Dr Makarand Ranade and Nina Mathrani,who were caught in a sting operation for sex selection. “We have written to Ranade and if not satisfied with the replies will take up the matter of suspending his licence,” said Dr Ambarish Shahade,IMA city unit chief.

The three member committee includes former presidents Dr Sharad Agharkhedkar,Dr Avinash Bhondwe and Dr Dilip Sarada. As per the IMA’s Save the girl child project an amount of Rs one lakh will be offered as an incentive to people who can help nabbing doctors indulging in sex determination tests. Sufficient proof will have to be provided by the complainant so that the doctor can be nabbed under the Pre -Conception and Pre Natal Diagnostic techniques Act.

Plea on sonography machine rejected

Judicial magistrate first class Umeshchandra More,on Monday,rejected Dr Ravindra Kanhaiyalal Jain’s plea seeking removal of the seal on the sonography machine at his clinic. The machine at Dr Jain’s Heart Clinic (Echocardiography Centre) on Pune-Satara Road was sealed as the clinic was flouting provisions of the Preconception and Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) (PCPNDT) Act.Dr Jain in his application stated the sealed machine is delicate and might lead to irreparable losses if not used. “If the seal is removed,it can be used for needy patients,” he said. The court rejected his application. On May 27,Assistant Medical and Health Officer (PMC) Dr Vaishali Jadhav,appropriate authority for the PcPNDT Act,had conducted an inspection at the clinic and found it was running illegally. Later,PMC filed a case gainst Dr Jain.