Sex Determination Tests

Inspections are conducted regularly by the Appropriate authorities in the States/UTs. As per the quarterly progress report (QPR) received from States/ UTs, a total of 2316 court cases have been filed by the District Appropriate Authorities for violating the provisions of the PC&PNDT Act, out of which 294 cases have been filed against unregistered diagnostic centres and 1683 machines have been sealed/seized. A total of 388 convictions have been secured under PC&PNDT Act, 1994. Following the convictions, the medical licenses of 108 doctors have been suspended by the various State Medical Councils.

As per the information received from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), NCRB has started collecting data on female foeticides since 2014 and as reported by NCRB, a total of 50 foeticides were reported in 2014 and 45 foeticides were reported in 2015 in the country, showing a decrease of 10% in female foeticides during 2015 over 2014. However, in Maharashtra it has increased from 1 foeticide to 5 foeticides

The Government has enacted the Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994, for prohibition of sex selection before or after conception and for prevention of misuse of pre-conception and pre-natal diagnostic techniques for sex determination.

The Government is rendering financial support to the States and UTs for operationalization of PNDT Cells, Capacity Building, Orientation & Sensitisation Workshop, Information, Education and Communication campaigns and for strengthening structures for the implementation of the PC & PNDT Act under the National Health Mission (NHM). In the financial year 2016-17 total Rs.1241.33 Lakhs have been approved for the effective implementation of PC&PNDT Act.  The State/UT-wise details are given below: 

Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (BBBP) was launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, to address the declining Child Sex Ratio and related issues of empowerment of women on a life-cycle continuum. It is a tri-ministerial, convergent effort of Ministries of Women and Child Development, Health & Family Welfare and Human Resource Development with a focus on awareness and advocacy campaign for changing mind sets, multi-sectoral action in selected 100 districts and now extend to additional 61 districts (low on CSR), enabling girls’ education and effective enforcement of Pre-Conception & Pre Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC&PNDT) Act. Awareness campaign has already been started in these districts. The details are given below:

Under BBBP scheme advocacy and Media Campaign at PAN India level has been started with a 360 degree approach which includes Radio and TV campaign, Cinema Halls, community engagement through Song & Drama Division, and online digital media. Radio, TV and IVR based 139 (the universal railway enquiry number) campaigns. Effective use of Social Media enhanced outreach on BBBP especially amongst the youth. Variety of social media platforms have been used for spreading positive messages about value of girl child in the public domain. This included extensive use of MyGov platform, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Vikaspedia, G+, Google Hangout, WhatsApp etc.

The government has constituted National Inspection and Monitoring Committee at the central level   for effective monitoring of PC&PNDT Act. Accordingly, the States/UTs have been directed to constitute Inspection and Monitoring Committees at State and District levels.