ACS-Health chairs weekly meeting of State Task Force for Improving Sex Ratio in Haryana
Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh-
Under the directions of Health and Family Welfare Minister Arti Singh Rao, the weekly meeting of the State Task Force (STF) for Improving Sex Ratio in Haryana was held under the chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary, Health, Sudhir Rajpal here today. The meeting focused on intensifying efforts to curb illegal abortions and further improve the state's sex ratio under the ‘Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao’ campaign.
During the meeting, the Additional Chief Secretary emphasized the need for stringent enforcement against illegal abortions, instructing officials to take punitive measures, including revoking the licences of doctors found complicit. He said the state is implementing reverse tracking of all Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) and abortion cases beyond 12 weeks, particularly where women already have one or more daughters. Over 120 FIRs have been registered across Haryana this year over illegal abortion practices, including illegal sale of MTP kits. Of these, challan has been presented in court in 39 cases while 47 cases are currently under investigation.
The Additional Chief Secretary directed that the CMOs in all districts be provided all the legal help along with active coordination with the police to ensure that all these cases can be taken to their logical conclusion in the courts and conviction can be ensured.
The Additional Chief Secretary called for better deployment of ANM and ASHA workers, with a special focus on urban areas. He directed the police to work closely with health officials during raids and to dismantle the entire network involved in sex determination and illegal abortions. For this, he emphasised tracing phone records and location history of accused persons.
The Additional Chief Secretary also directed that no Nodal Officer for PNDT in any district can be transferred without the permission of Director General, Health Services (DGHS). The DGHS will have the power to choose and appoint these nodal officers for all districts.
The Woman and Child Development Department informed that an awareness advertisement on the ‘Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao’ campaign is being aired in cinema halls across the state. A dedicated dashboard for Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) activities has also been created to monitor the activities being conducted under the campaign and it will be functional in the next one month.