Panchkula tops sex ratio at birth chart in Haryana

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, August 13

Panchkula district has been ranked first in sex ratio at birth (SRB) in Haryana as a result of continuous efforts by the district administration and the Health Department to prevent female foeticide.

According to the data provided by the Health Department, the ratio of newborn girls per 1,000 boys has gone up from 922 in 2018 to 978 from January till June this year.

Deputy Commissioner Mukesh Kumar Ahuja said Civil Surgeon Dr Yogesh Sharma and his team had done commendable work. He said for this achievement of the district, project director in the Chief Minister’s Good Governance Associates Programme, Dr Rakesh Gupta, has also congratulated the district administration.

The Civil Surgeon said people were made aware about the menace of female foeticide. Under the awareness programme, a workshop of gynaecologists and radiologists of private hospitals was organised wherein state coordinator Dr GL Singhal gave detailed information about the PC-PNDT Act.

Dr Pravindrajit Singh, nodal officer, PC-PNDT Act, Panchkula, said some villages of Raipur Rani, Hangola and Nanakpur areas had less sex ratio than other areas of the district. Cases such as illegal sale of non-invasive pre-natal (NIPT) kits had been reported in these areas and the Health Department was constantly monitoring these activities and keeping a tab on the chemists of these areas.

He said soon an action would be taken against those involved in such activities. The department was also conducting surprise inspections at the district’s ultrasound centres and strict legal action was taken in the absence of the PC-PNDT Act.

Surprise inspections 

• Dr Pravindrajit Singh, nodal officer, PC-PNDT Act, Panchkula, said the Health Department is conducting surprise inspections at the district’s ultrasound centres and strict legal action is taken in the absence of the PC-PNDT Act.
• The PC-PNDT Act was enacted on September 20, 1994, with the intent to prohibit pre-natal diagnostic techniques for determination of the sex of the fetus leading to female foeticide. That is to say the preliminary object was to put a check on female foeticide.