According to the data available from the Union Health Ministry, in the past 8 years, reported cases under the PC-PNDT Act have surged from 2048 in March 2015 to 3563 in July 2023 while licenc es of 145 convicted doctors have been suspended by their respective State Medical Councils.
The convictions have also seen a substantial increase from 271 to 713 during the said period, as per the data shared at the 29th meeting of the Central Supervisory Board (CSB) held recently here under the chairmanship of Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.
The primary concern discussed at the meeting was the declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR) and Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) in the country, indicative of the ongoing battle against sex-based discrimination leading to sex selection/ determination followed by pre-birth elimination.
Citing the latest Sample Registration Survey (SRS) report of 2020, Mandaviya said that the data reveals a commendable three-point improvement from 904 in 2017-19 to 907 in 2018-20. “Importantly, 12 out of 22 surveyed states have demonstrated improvement, underlining the combined efforts of the states in implementing the Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1994 (PC&PNDT Act) and the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme,” he stated.
Further, he informed that the latest SRS report indicated that the gender gap has witnessed a two-point decrease in 2020 compared to a five-point gap in 2015. He said “ten states have effectively reversed the gender gap, positively impacting female survival rates”.
Mandaviya also emphasized on the challenges posed by modern technologies, such as IVF procedures, the non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT), and compact diagnostic equipment, which facilitate sex selection under the pretext of family balancing.
“These technologies, despite their positive medical applications, could be misused and exacerbate gender imbalances”, he stated.
At the same time the Minister also urged that the PDNT Act should not be used to harass innocent doctors by anyone.
Haryana, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu were hailed for their innovative strategies, including sting operations and informer schemes, to combat gender-biased sex selection.