From 2008 to 2011, the State Pre-Conception & Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC&PNDT) Committee conducted over 700 raids across various diagnostic centres in the state. Of them, 46 cases of violation were registered and owners of these centres dragged to court.
Despite all the good work to put an end to female foeticide and illegal abortions through sex determination tests, the committee, whose three-year term ended eight months ago, has been lying in limbo with the State Department of Health and Family Welfare not forming a new committee.
For the last eight months, there have been no raids, giving a free hand to unscrupulous clinics that could be carrying out sex-determination tests. A committee with a gynaecologist, a paediatrician, two members of NGOs and a social activist was formed in 2008 with a three-year term which ended in October 2011. Dr Vasundhara Bhupathi, former member of the committee, told Deccan Chronicle, “As soon as we get any suspicion or clue from the public about any diagnostic centre conducting illegal pre-natal sex determination tests, we went to the spot and conducted an inquiry.”
Because of such raids, scanning licences of Ratna Diagnostic Centre in Jayanagar and Aruna Maternity Home in Gayathrinagar were cancelled as both were found conducting sex determination tests. “After intense grilling, owner of Aruna Maternity Home, a gynaecologist herself, admitted that she had conducted around 50-60 pre-natal sex determination tests at her centre. Doctors from other districts, including Mandya and Belgaum, too were pulled up for their illegal act,” she said.
Dr Prabhuchandra, District Health Officer, said: “We have written to the deputy commissioner who is also the District Appropriate Authority (PC and PNDT Act). We have sent a proposal to the health commissioner for forming the new committee, but there has been no action. We sent a third proposal two months ago and we are waiting for his response.” Dr Rangaswamy H.V., Deputy Director, PC &PNDT Cell, which functions under the Department of Health and Family Welfare, told Deccan Chronicle: “The state cell is just a monitoring body and whenever we get any information, we conduct an inquiry against these centres.
He said, “We are planning to increase the penalty slapped on the violators and the prize money given to the public who inform us about such centres.” Health Secretary E.V. Ramanna Reddy was unavailable for comment, despite repeated attempts.