Representatives and activists of several women’s and civil society organisations on Friday urged the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare not to bring about any amendments to the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC-PNDT) Act in 1994, as such amendments would not only weaken the legislation but also defeat the very purpose the Centre’s flagship programme — ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ (BBBP).
Opposing the nation-wide strike launched by sonologists and radiologists from from Thursday to press for amendments in the PCPNDT Act, the activists said, “Amendments to the law at this stage will not only weaken the PC-PNDT Act but also defeat the purpose of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP)” that was launched in January 2015. The amendments being pushed by the medical Associations would allow tens of thousands of medical professionals to continue profiteering from gender-biased sex selection and escape criminal prosecution”.
According to various women and civil society organsiations and activists, the Child Sex Ratio (CSR) in the age group 0-6 years has been continuously declining since 1981. According to one estimate, on an average 4.56 lakh girls went missing at birth every year during the period 2001-12.
The Sample Registration Survey (SRS) Statistical Report -2013 released by the Census of India in 2015 shows the same adverse trend at birth for most of the States. The Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) was found to be 864 for Haryana, 867 for Punjab, 902 for J&K, 893 for Rajasthan, 911 for Gujarat, 902 for Maharashtra, and 878 for Uttar Pradesh (2011-13).
The signatories to the joint statement included — Akhil Bharatiya Janwadi Mahila Sanghatana, MASUM, Bharatiya Mahila Federation, Forum against Sex Selection, Chetna Mahila Vikas Manch, Abhivyakti, Streevani, Kagad Kach Patra Kashtkari Panchayat, Bhatke Vimukt Mahila Adhikar Andolan, Shramik Mukti Dal lokshahiwadi and activists like Kiran Moghe, Dr. Manisha Gupte, Adv . Kamayani Bali Mahabal, Purnima Chikkarma-ne and Sanyogita Dhamdhere.
The organisations and activists said that though the Centre passed the PC-PNDT Act in 1994 to contain gender-biased sex selection but its implementation remained on paper for several years. It was only after the Supreme Court’s intervention in 2001 that the implantation started and the registration of ultrasound centres began.
They said that the recent Census had clearly highlighted the fact that gender-biased sex selection was still rampant and the situation demanded stringent and more accountable implementation of the PC-PNDT Act. “The present Act is adequate to create deterrence and deal with the crime of gender-biased sex selection as is evident in the states of Maharashtra and Haryana where medical pr0fessionals are being booked for illegal and unethical practice of gender-biased sex selection,” the activists said.,
The activists said that “powerful medical lobby was pushing to undermine the PC-PNDT Act. Pressure is also being built by the professional medical Associations on the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India to dilute the strong provisions of the present Act,” they said.
While opposing amendments to PC-PNDT Act, the activists urged MoHFW to enforce the Act strictly at block, district and state levels.