Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
* Jyani asks civil surgeons to keep an eye on ultrasound centres
Chandigarh,The Punjab government today set in motion an aggressivecampaign to check the female foeticide and infanticide in the state under which intensive vigil has been ordered on the functioning of the ultra sound centres in Punjab.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Punjab, Mr. Surjit Kumar Jayani today issued directions to all the Health officers including the Civil Surgeons to keep an eye on the ultrasound centres allegedly indulging in sex determination tests. He said that Strict action would be taken against the doctors indulging in illegal practices and also ordered the immediate sealing of such ultrasound centres . He has also asked the officers concerned to initiate a rigorous campaign to ensure strict enforcement of the PNDT Act and ensure a strict compliance to the awareness generation activities undertaken in Punjab.
Taking stock of the ongoing centrally sponsored schemes and programmes in the state, the Minister said that on the guidelines of the Union government, the Punjab government would get a district wise survey done to identify the exact sex ratio across the state and would take adequate steps to improve the male-female ratio wherever a decline is recorded. He also said that the Punjab government has come up with action plans for village level, block level as well as district level so that the number of girl children registered and their educational levels also go up.
Quoting statistics, the Minister said that apparently the sex ratio at birth has improved in Punjab to 893 females per 1,000 males as compared to the neighboring Haryana state where it was recorded as 879 females per 1000 males as against the national gender ratio of 943 females per 1000 males.
Punjab’s health minister has urged religious leaders to come forward and help in changing the mindset of the society towards the unborn daughters so that they get their due right to take birth and live in this world.
