EXPLAINER: How Karnal Health Department exposed UP-based illegal abortion centres

The Karnal Health Department is tightening its noose around those people who are involved in illegal abortion and sex determination practices. The department is doing so through innovative tracking methods and has traced two health centres in Uttar Pradesh. Officials credit these measures behind the improvement of the district’s sex ratio in the coming days. Here is what one needs to know about the initiative, sex ratio and challenges before the department.

 How were these centres traced?

During regular inspections, health teams in Karnal district identified two women who had recently undergone abortions. When officials questioned the women and their families about where the medical procedures were performed, both revealed that they had travelled outside Haryana for the abortions. One woman said she had gone to Saharanpur (UP) for the procedure, while another woman said her abortion took place in Shamli (UP). After confirming these details, the Health Department of Karnal verified the information and identified the exact centres where the abortions had been carried out.

What action in this regard has been taken by the Health Department in Karnal?

The Health Department has registered two FIRs under Section 89 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against the centres in Saharanpur and Shamli in UP.

What is reverse tracking and how does it work?

Reverse tracking is a method used by health officials to identify illegal abortion or sex determination centres. Instead of starting with the clinics or any tip off, the authorities trace the process backwards — beginning with women who have undergone abortions and tracking where the procedures were performed. In these recent cases, the women’s testimonies led department officials to centres in Saharanpur and Shamli, both in Uttar Pradesh. Officials believe that reverse tracking has become an effective tool in curbing violations under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, which regulates when and how abortions can legally take place. This investigative approach will also help in future in exposing where the illegal abortions are being performed.

What challenges do the authorities face in curbing illegal abortions?

Many such illegal procedures are conducted in neighbouring states or in private facilities operating without authorisation. These centres often exploit loopholes or lack of cross-border monitoring. In the past too, the department has exposed such illegal inter-state and inter-district illegal abortion centres as well as sex determination centres. The health authorities consider such centres as a major challenge for checking sex determination and illegal abortion.

What is the “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” campaign and how has the campaign impacted Karnal district?

The “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” campaign is a national initiative aimed at improving the child sex ratio and promoting education for girls. It was launched by the Prime Minister on January 22, 2015. The campaign has had a positive impact in Karnal, where the sex ratio improved by 40 points over the last decade, rising from 886 in 2014 to 926 in 2024. Karnal district witnessed an improvement of 18 points to reach a sex ratio of 926 in 2024, compared to 908 in 2023, placing it fourth in the state rankings. In August 2025, it was 920, while in September it reached 926.

What trends have been observed in the sex ratio of Karnal district over the years?

The sex ratio of Karnal district has shown both rise and fall over the past decade: it was 886 in 2014, increased to 897 in 2015, 909 in 2016, 922 in 2017, and reached its peak of 934 in 2018. It then declined to 908 in 2019 and 900 in 2020, slightly improved to 912 in 2021, dipped again to 903 in 2022, rose to 908 in 2023, and finally climbed to 926 in 2024, indicating an overall upward trend despite yearly fluctuations.

What steps are being taken by the department?

Over the last decade, the Health Department conducted 54 raids on ultrasound centres, hospitals, and other places exposing illegal sex determination and termination of pregnancies. Of these, around 47 raids were successful. The neighbouring states of UP and Punjab emerged as a major challenge for the department where people get the procedure conducted easily. Besides, the department has issued notices to ANMs, ASHA, medical officers for low sex ratio in their villages. Now, the department is focusing on the villages and wards with low sex ratio. The authorities are also conducting programmes to spread awareness about saving a girl child as well as her education.