Maharashtra Health and Family Welfare Minister Prakash Abitkar has urged authorities to ensure strict enforcement of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act to improve the state’s sex ratio and curb female foeticide. He also directed that district-level supervisory committees be set up within the next month and regular workshops be conducted to monitor that the Act is implemented effectively.
Chairing a state-level supervisory board meeting on the effective enforcement of the PCPNDT Act on Tuesday, Abitkar reviewed the actions taken by the health department in this regard. Senior officials from the department and representatives of non-governmental organisations attended the meeting. The meeting also included a district-wise review of the sex ratio at birth, based on reports from the civil registration system.
Speaking at the meeting, Abitkar said there is a need for a more serious approach to increase the number of girls and improve the male-female ratio in the state. He emphasised that, alongside strict implementation of the PCPNDT Act, district-level supervisory committees should be appointed in the next month and conduct regular workshops. He also called for active measures to curb crimes such as female foeticide, promote social awareness among the youth through social media, and engage positively with communities.
At the village level, ASHA workers and local committees should take collective responsibility for awareness campaigns. Enthusiastic individuals working voluntarily in this area should be organised into dedicated teams with clear Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Counseling sessions should be conducted at school and college levels, and local representatives should be involved to bring about a change in mindset.
The review meeting was attended virtually by legislators, health officials, legal experts, representatives from non-governmental organisations (NGOs), gynaecologists, obstetricians, paediatrician, and radiologists, among others. Prior to the meeting, a presentation on the health department’s actions under the PCPNDT Act was held.
