The ministry has decided to set up special surveillance cells equipped with knowhow and technology to nab places involved in illegal pre-natal sex determination.
NEW DELHI: Sting operations will now become official. Taking a cue from journalists, the health ministry has decided to go for sting operations to prevent female feticide in the country.
The special surveillance cells of the union health and family welfare ministry will conduct video camera-based sting operations to nab doctors and diagnostic centres which help in pre-natal determination of sex.
Helped by senior retired police officials, legal and medical experts the surveillance cells of the ministry will help the state authorities in conducting such sting operations and raids. While the modalities of the surveillance cells are being worked out, it has been decided not to harass the pregnant women during such operations.
"The amended Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PNDT) Act has enough stringent provisions to prohibit the perpetration of the crime with imprisonment and fine. Yet, the violators take advantage of the legal loophole," said minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr Anbumani Ramadoss.
The child sex ratio in India is lowest in Punjab -- 793 females per 1000 males. "Since the Act alone cannot help solve the problem, vigorous implementation of its provisions can substantially curb such practices," Ramadoss added.
Under the Act, it has been made mandatory for those using ultra-sound equipment to get registered with their local Appropriate Authority. By September this year, nearly 27,230 units got registered across the country. Even though a large number of centres and doctors are indulged in this practise, the authorities have only managed to register cases against 320 units in the absence of evidence.
Meanwhile, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has joined hands with Merck for the vaccine trials for cancer. The human trials of the vaccine is currently underway in South Africa and a cost-effective vaccine is expected to emerge from the trials. The ICMR will also enhance its research activities in the fields of stem cell, genomics and nano-technology for checking cancer.
The government also plans to make it mandatory for the companies to print all the details of the ingredients used in the food in order to check food adulteration, which also causes cancer. A notification in this regard will be issued soon and no tobacco or alcohol-based food would be permitted in the packaging. The states will get an upgraded Regional Cancer Centre for early detection and prevention.
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