AMN /
Governments of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh have decided to work together to curb the meance of female foeticide in the three neighbouring states. They have also decided to keep a check on other health related issues.
This was decided at an inter-state convergence and coordination meeting on Pre-Conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques Act (PC-PNDT). It was attended by the Principal Secretaries of Health & family Welfare of the three states.
According to Census-2011, sex ratio in Punjab is 846 females per 1000 males as compared to Haryana which has 830 female children. However, these states are now moving towards improving the sex ratio. Himachal has 970 females per thousand males and stands above both the neighbouring states.
Haryana, Punjab has also announced to enhance the award money to informers of illegal sex-determination and female foeticide in the state to Rs. 1 Lakh. Punjab’s Principal Secretary Health Vini Mahajan has also declared that the state would not object checking of ultrasound centres by PNDT Cell from the neighbouring states.
It was also decided to upload the lists of all the ultrasound centers on the websites of the concerned departments. Such meetings on various health related issues would now be held on quarterly basis.