The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought an action-taken report from Health Secretary over massive illegal abortion cases in Angul district within four weeks.
The commission’s direction came in response to a petition filed by Human Rights Watch secretary Sangita Swain recently. According to the complainant in the last 10 months more than 55 abortion cases have occurred in Banarpal block in Angul.
“Interestingly the pregnant women are doing their registration regarding their pregnancy in National Health Mission (NHM) through local Anganwadi workers and availing facilities for treatment. Unfortunately they prefer to abort their foetuses due to various reasons,” said the complainant.
The petitioner further added that due to abortion the number of pregnant women registered in NHM differ from the actual number of child birth as per the data of Mother Child Tracking System where they are taking advantage to get rid of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, 1994 due to inaction and unlawful action by the public authorities.
The complainant requested the commission to take criminal action against the concerned authorities in this regard.