Mumbai: The Maharashtra Legislative Council
on Wednesday discussed the issue of female foeticide and mulled a ban
on portable sonography machines.
"Sonography machines were seized by conducting raids and
sting operations at many places recently," Minister of State
for Health Fauzia Khan said, adding that the government was
contemplating a ban on the portable sonography machines.
The Minister said a three-pronged approach was required to
curb female foeticide.
"A district-level task force would be formed to take
review of the situation. Also, impact analysis would be done
through external agencies to find out, which schemes were
beneficial for the women," she added.
NCP MLC Vinayak Mete, who had moved the proposal to hold
a discussion on the issue, said the government should invoke
section 302 (Murder) of the IPC against the culprits.
The Minister said her Department would seek opinion of
Law and Judiciary in this regard.
Shiv Sena MCL Neelam Gorhe, MLC Vidya Chavan, Alka Desai,
Congress MLC Bhai Jagtap and various other MLCs participated
in the discussion.
The Assembly had discussed the issue a few days ago, with
some MLAs favouring pressing for murder charges against guilty
parents and doctors.
PTI
