Central anti-foeticide team begins raids 

Alarmed over the decline in female-male sex ratio in the last 15
years, the Central Government seems to have determined for a
nation-wide crackdown on sex determination scanning clinics to prevent
female foeticide. [female-male ratio � 945:1,000 in 1991 and 927:1,000
in 2001].

The National Inspection and Monitoring Committee for PNDT Act headed
by Rathan Chand, Director for PNDT Act (Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare, Government of India), Delhi, launched raids in Karnataka
yesterday on the scanning clinics suspected to be involved in sex
determination of foetus and female foeticide (PNDT Act � 1994 �
Pre-Natal Diagnostic Technique [Regulation and Prevention of Misuse]
Act � 1994).

The Delhi team includes M.K. Sharma, Additional Law Secretary,
Government of India and Dr. Kamala Raman, a gynaecologist, belonging
to Parivar Seva Samstha, a Delhi-based NGO.

The team arrived in the city last night and began raids in rural areas
of Nanjangud taluk today. The team is being accompanied by Karnataka
High Court advocate M. Kumar, appointed by the Government of Karnataka
as legal consultant.

The three members of District Committee � Dr. Ufat Fatima, Dr. K.V.
Lakshmidevi, Dr. Janaki Sheshadri � and Taluk Health and Family
Welfare Officer Dr. K.H. Prasad is assisting the team in the raids.

Talking to Star of Mysore exclusively at the office of District Health
and Family Welfare this morning, Rathan Chand said that under the PNDT
Act, keeping unregistered scanner in clinics is a crime. The scanners
should be registered with the District Health and Family Welfare
Officer or any designated authority.

The registered scanners can be utilised for medical aspects. However,
revealing the sex of the foetus is a crime.

Rs. 10,000 fine will be imposed on the offenders, who violate the
provisions of PNDT Act, for the first crime.

However, for the second crime, the licence of the clinic will be
cancelled and the owner will be committed to a jail sentence upto 6
months.

The clinics having scanners should keep a copy of the PNDT Act and
display a signboard detailing the provisions of the Act prominently to
create awareness among the public.

Raids in Bangalore

The Committee conducted the raids on five clinics in Bangalore rural
areas. The scanner in a clinic was seized as the clinic had not
registered it with the Department.

The Committee has powers to conduct raids, seize equipment, collect
fines on-the-spot and handing over the offenders to the Police.

In Mysore district

Rathan Chand said the Committee had information about the clinics
which are allegedly involved in foeticide in Mysore district. The
menace prevails in Mandya and Bangalore districts also.

Though the Committee was planning to commence raids from Mysore city,
Rathan Chand asked his team to proceed to Nanjangud to conduct
surprise raids.

According to him, foeticide is rampant in Nanjangud and rural areas of
the taluk.

More Committees

Rathan Chand disclosed that Committees under PNDT Act will be
constituted in taluks and cities also along with the existing State
and District level Committees.

He hailed the Government of Karnataka for being the first State in
India to appoint a full time legal consultant under the PNDT Act.

He said that today's raid was the beginning of a campaign against
female foeticide and the local Committees will continue the mission.