Prenatal Diagnostic Test (PNDT) Act, 1994-Bihar government has decided to take action against women going for sex determination test with the forceful implementation to stop female feticide.

SAVE BABY GIRL- ( BETIYAN  BACHAO )

PATNA: In a move to stop female feticide, the state government has decided to take action against women going for sex determination test with the forceful implementation of the Prenatal Diagnostic Test (PNDT) Act, 1994.

Bihar health minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey earlier admitted that the Act had not been strictly enforced in the state and expressed concern over the declining sex ratio in the state. He said, "I admit the PNDT Act has not been implemented properly in the state. So far, action has been taken in only three cases. Among these three cases, the two hospitals, which were closed down for violating the law in the state capital, later resumed functioning only to be closed down again."

Bihar's sex ratio, according to 2011 census, has gone down a bit. The male: female ratio was 1000:916 in 2011 while in 2001 it was 1000:919. Choubey said, "Both, who are conducting the sex determination tests and those who are going for the same will be punished severely under the Act. Licenses of such centres will also be cancelled and legal action against them will follow. The imprisonment may extend up to three years with fine up to Rs 10,000."

There are 1,145 registered ultrasound centres in Bihar of which around 60% are located at Patna itself. The state government has planned to undertake a fresh survey to find out how many new such centres have come up.

The government on May 30 launched the 'Bitiya Bachao', or save daughter, campaign statewide to prevent female foeticide. Two new bodies have also been constituted to check female foeticide in the state including the state supervisory body chaired by the health minister himself and the other the state advisory body. The government also plans to take help of CID and other agencies to check female foeticide in the state.

source : TOI