Action on centres conducting prenatal sex determination test

After having cancelled licences of at least 29 ultrasound centres that were found guilty of conducting illegal prenatal sex determination tests, authorities have now prepared a list of other such centres in the city.

On the basis of information provided by public, a list has been prepared of centres in the city which conduct illegal prenatal sex determination tests, Chief Medical Officer Ashok Mishra said.

Action will be taken in this regard, he said, adding the Health department is also preparing to lodge cases against the ultrasound centres earlier found guilty.

"We are taking steps to stop female foeticide. On April 21, licences of 29 centres were cancelled. Ultrasound machines at 13 such centres were also sealed," Chief Medical Officer Ashok Mishra said.

The authorities have also decided to take action against centres that are not abiding by the rules laid down under Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Technique (prohibition of sex determination) (PCPNDT) Act, he said.

All the 192 ultrasound centres in Kanpur will be brought under the scanner, he said, adding the authorities are also seeking help from the Indian Medical Association and other organisations in this regard.

A staff of an ultrasound centre said on condition of anonymity that the couples were charged Rs1000 to know the sex of the foetus without maintaining any official record.

If the foetus was female, the centre would charge another Rs2000 for abortion.

By the 2001 census, Kanpur has a sex ratio of 865 women per 1000 men.