Haryana’s crusade against the menace of female foeticide is facing a major challenge with surging trend of use of portable ultrasound machines for sex-determination in the State.
To save the unborn daughters of Haryana who often lose their life battle due to preference of sons in a family, the State Government is now facing a major threat with portable mini-ultrasound machines finding their way into Haryana, the State known for its skewed sex ratio.
While carrying out special drives in the State against female foeticide, the State authorities have seized more than 40 such machines in past one year and have observed increasing misuse of portable ultrasound machines, which is making their task difficult in its ongoing campaign.
The portable ultrasound machines, which are being illegally used for sex determination tests, have been seized in Bahadurgarh, Gurgaon, Sirsa, Bhiwani, Ambala among other districts in the past one year.
Some of these machines manufactured by Chinese firms resemble a smartphone and can be easily put inside trouser’s pocket. Apart from this, the State authorities also face a tough task to keep a check on 1,600 ultrasound centres running across Haryana.
Though no concrete figure is available on the exact number of female foeticide cases in Haryana, the officials of Health Department estimate that more than 30,000 girls are being killed every year in the State before they are born.
According to the information tabled in the Parliament recently, Haryana had seized 241 ultrasound machines, suspended 9 medical licenses, witnessed 54 convictions, and 108 cases are on-going in Courts under PC & PNDT Act upto September 2014.
The state where the child sex ratio (CSR) has been dismally low was chosen by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to launch the nationwide Beti Bachao Beti Padhao programme, which is implemented in 12 districts of Haryana. As per the latest data with the Health Department, the child sex ratio (0-6 years) has reached to 875 per 1,000 which was 834 earlier.
“The State Government is making efforts to keep a check on illegal use of portable ultrasound machines and diagnostic centres, which indulge in pre-natal sex determination and female foeticide. 1,600 ultrasound centres are running in the State and irregularities have been found in many centres during inspections, said Haryana Additional Chief Secretary, Health, Ram Niwas while talking to the mediapersons on Wednesday.
The issue of portable ultrasound machines is taken up with the Centre and Government is working for making it mandatory for registration of ultrasound machine importers and buyers, he said.
About irregularities in ultrasound centres, he added that the Health Department has issued notices to such centres and FIRs have also been registered in some cases. “We have asked these centres to provide form-F”, he informed.
F-Form is a document for maintaining the record in case of prenatal diagnostic test/procedure by genetic clinic/ultrasound clinic and imaging centre. According to PCPNDT Act if the F-Form is found incomplete, the ultrasonography machines are seized. Even as sex determination is an offence, a number of diagnostic centres across the State are carrying out this procedure.
To check the female foeticide, Haryana Government has decided to give Rsone lakh cash award to the informers providing vital information about anyone involved in this heinous practice. The State Government is also considering framing a law under which registration of pregnancy would be made compulsory within first three months of pregnancy.
legal opinion is being sought to take action accordingly if someone do not get their pregnancy registered within first three months.
Haryana claims decline in IMR, MMR
Haryana Government on Wednesday claimed that the infant mortality rate (IMR) in the State has reduced to 36 from 41 in 2013. Similarly, maternal mortality rate (MMR), which was earlier 141 has been brought down to 127.
Additional Chief Secretary Health, Ram Niwas said that the State Government has succeeded in reducing the IMR and MMR. Also, the child sex ratio in Haryana has reached to 875 per 1,000 which was 834 earlier.
There has been increase in institutional deliveries which is 86 per cent now, though it remains less than the neighboring state Punjab. He informed that the State Government has set up 22 sick newborn care units (SNCUs) across the State to reduce IMR.