Provisional figures on the child sex ratio released by Census authorities are bound to dispel any notions of Maharashtra’s status as the fifth most developed state in the country.
Provisional figures on the child sex ratio released by Census authorities are bound to dispel any notions of Maharashtra’s status as the fifth most developed state in the country.
Experts have flayed the government for not strengthening the pre-conception and pre-natal diagnostic technique Act ( PCPNDT). Tardy implementation of the act, they say, is causing this shortfall in girl children.
“Authorities should monitor clinics regularly so that sonography is not misused to get rid of female fetuses. If that is found, a case should be filed in court and maximum punishment should be ensured. Apart from a special prosecutor, we need a fast-track court to deal with female foeticide,” said Dr AL Sharda, programme director, Population First. She further stressed the need for augmenting budgetary allocation for schemes run by the women & child development department.
Echoing her thoughts, senior faculty member at Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Dr Asha Bajpayee told DNA, “Efforts will not bear fruit till we do not expose the doctors and nursing homes which continue to facilitate this illegality. This needs to be addressed on priority.”
Dr Rekha Davar, head of the gynaecology department, Sir JJ Group of Hospitals added, “This child sex ratio data proves that female infanticide continues regardless of advances in quality of life and literacy.”
A senior doctor from KEM hospital who spoke on condition of anonymity, admitted that doctors are often approached to identify the sex of the foetus so that it can be terminated if it is a girl. “Even if we want to complain, we have no idea how to go about it. Questions to superiors only elicit random answers. There is no system in place to put a woman scouting around for an abortion on surveillance. This means if I don’t do it, then she will simply go elsewhere,” she said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}