New Delhi: In a bid to improve the skewed sex ratio in the state, Haryana has conducted 14,186 raids and inspections across the state in 2011-12 against errant clinics conducting sex determination tests.
During these raids, as many as 185 machines were seized and sealed, 336 licences were suspended or cancelled and 108 cases were filed in lower courts and the High Court.
Stating this, Haryana`s Health Minister Rao Narender Singh informed that 30 persons were convicted and licences of four medical practitioners cancelled. Besides, 1,283 ultrasound clinics were registered with the Health Department.
He said that between April, 2011 and March, 2012, as many as 36 ultrasound machines were seized and sealed, which include the maximum of eight in Ambala, seven in Rohtak and five in Yamuna Nagar and another four in Narnaul.
Besides, 54 show-cause notices were issued with a maximum of 15 in Sonepat and licenses of 49 machines were suspended, he said.
Rao said to make villages join the campaign against foeticide, the state has announced a prize of Rs one lakh for one village in each district showing the highest sex ratio and Rs five lakh for the village showing the highest sex ratio in the state.
He said ultrasound machines used for veterinary purposes were now being registered by the Health Department to prevent their misuse.
Incentive of up to Rs 20,000 has been announced by the Health Department for informers in each district to avert illegal activities and residence ID proof has been made mandatory for ultrasound of pregnant women as part of enforcement of the Act, he said.
Rao said the action continues during the current year as
one Mastan Hospital in Yamuna Nagar was raided on May 14, 2012 and one doctor was caught aborting a female foetus. A police case has been registered and the centre has been sealed.
Another case was registered against Upkar Charitable Hospital in Karnal on May 31,2012 against Dr Rekha and others, for doing illegal abortion of a female foetus under PC & PNDT Act and MTP Act, he said.
Rao said that an unregistered ultrasound machine was seized doing sex determination at the residence of another doctor Sailaesh Sharma in Ambala and an FIR has been lodged against Sharma and two BAMS doctors of Ambala District have been arrested. The ultrasound machine has been sealed.
In yet another case, one Singla Hospital in Radaur, run by a BAMS doctor, was caught operating ultrasound machine in the absence of the operator doctor D C Mittal. The machine has been sealed and court case launched against Singla and license of doctor Mittal (operator) suspended till the pendency of the court case. The Shivani Hospital in Jagadhari was raided and lady doctor was arrested for varying out illegal MTPs.
"These harsh and telling measures to enforce the PNDT Act have been aided by some new initiatives," the minister said, adding that to curb the illegal practice the Health Department has started registration and tracking of all such women who are 12-20 weeks pregnant, the time for sex determination and female foeticide.
He said that a task force, headed by Deputy Commissioner has been set up in each district, which will meet every month to review the sex ratio and enforcement of the Act.
PTI
