With the child sex ratio standing at as low as 891 girls per 1000 boys, the Punjab Government has framed a comprehensive policy to check the low number of girls born per 1,000 boys by ensuring proper implementation of the ban on pre-diagnostic tests.
The State Health Department has issued instructions by which all ultrasound centres would be put under 24x7 online surveillance while the police verification of doctors and other staff posted at such centres has been made mandatory.
Announcing this, the State Health Minister Brahm Mohindra said that it is a matter of concern that the sex ratio of the State had not improved as per the set targets. “891 girls per 1000 boys, as per civil registration system January 2017, is matter of serious concern,” he said.
He said that the Punjab Government had considered the ever decreasing sex ratio as a serious blot on the face of the state. The Health Department had decided to launch a consistent campaign to enforce the Pre Conception (PC) and Pre Natal Diagnostic Test (PNDT) Act with an iron hand, he said.
“Instructions down the line to the all and sundry in health paraphernalia of the State had been issued by which it had been made clear that any laxity in any reported case of female foeticide and in pre-diagnostic tests would be considered criminal conspiracy on the part of the erring,” he said.
The Health Minister said that though the Punjab Government had announced an award of Rs1 lakh to anyone giving information about the violation of the PC and PNDT Act, the fact remained that the Health Department had not been adequately receiving information and complaint beforehand.
“Such a sordid state of affairs in the health department is a clear indication that the previous Government had done nothing to implement the PC and PNDT Act,” he said.
The minister said that the Police Department had been asked to fully cooperate with the Health Department to ensure the compliance of the Act.
“Role of Punjab Police is crucial and sensitive in the identification of these ultrasound centres and eventually making surprise raids in such centres in association with the officials of Health Department,” he said.