Latest news with #Pre-ConceptionandPre-NatalDiagnosticTechniques
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
32 FIRs, 32 arrests in July as Haryana steps up crackdown on illegal abortions
Gurgaon: Thirty-two suspects named in 32 cases were arrested across Haryana last month on the suspicion that they facilitated illegal abortions or engaged in sex-determination before birth. Most of these cases – eight – were registered in Nuh. Two each were filed in Charkhi Dadri, Hisar, Jind, Rewari, Panipat, Panchkula, Palwal and Rohtak; and one each in Narnaul, Kurukshetra and Karnal. More cases were in the process of being registered. Those arrested include clinic operators, their staff members, and unlicensed practitioners who were allegedly involved in carrying out or facilitating illegal abortions. This information was disclosed at a meeting of the state task force formed this year to improve Haryana's sex-ratio at birth (SRB). Officials said the health department has also issued notices to 38 private hospitals and clinics for allegedly violating the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (ACT) Act and the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act. These include 14 facilities in Rohtak, six in Panipat, and four each in Hisar, Karnal and Bhiwani. You Can Also Check: Gurgaon AQI | Weather in Gurgaon | Bank Holidays in Gurgaon | Public Holidays in Gurgaon Much of this crackdown is the result of authorities 'reverse tracking' abortions that were permitted after 12 weeks of pregnancy. TOI had earlier reported that 824 abortion cases were flagged for 'reverse tracking' across all Haryana districts, and 786 have been scrutinised so far. Haryana govt's crackdown is part of the broader campaign to enforce legal safeguards on abortion norms and clamp down on any illegal practices. It was ordered after Haryana recorded a decline in the sex ratio at birth (SRB). Last year, the state's average SRB – the count of girls born for every 1,000 boys – fell to 910, the lowest since 2016. According to govt's own assessment, the drive is making headway. "Haryana's sex ratio at birth improved to 907 girls per 1,000 boys by July-end, up from 899 during the same period last year," additional chief secretary (health) Sudhir Rajpal, who heads the task force, said at the review meeting in Chandigarh on Tuesday. Rajpal also instructed health officials to intensify action, including cancelling the licences of doctors found complicit in facilitating illegal abortions. IVF centres are now facing stricter oversight — all embryo implantations must be registered on an online portal. "Police have been asked to coordinate closely with health teams to identify unregistered abortion centres and track down offenders," Rajpal said, adding that he has sought progress reports on all FIRs filed over the last month. In a first-of-its-kind move, the state has decided to involve the transgender community in celebrating the birth of girl child. Transgender persons will visit households where a girl is born — replicating a tradition usually reserved for boys — and hand over a certificate that says Rs 21,000 will be invested by the govt under the 'Aapki Beti Hamari Beti' scheme. Transgender people will receive an incentive of Rs 1,100 for every visit. Officials said this initiative, which will be supervised by district chief medical officers, will help help mobilise communities to celebrate the birth of a girl child and promote gender-positive messaging at the grassroots. The department of women and child development told the task force that an awareness advertisement under central govt's 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' campaign will be screened in cinema halls across the state.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
IVF and gender bias: Why are we still choosing boys?
Dr Rhythm Bhalla A well-off, educated couple from Canada walked into my clinic last week, seeking consultation for in-vitro fertilization (IVF). 'After ten years of marriage, we've been yearning for a child and would value your guidance,' the wife said. It was a standard conversation—until she quietly added, 'I would like a male child.' Her husband, though slightly hesitant, nodded in agreement. As a gynecologist, such requests are, unfortunately, not rare. IVF, while a medical marvel offering hope to countless childless couples, has also opened the door to something far more problematic: sex selection. It prompts a painful question—why this persistent preference for boys? From the operating table to the boardroom, women have proved themselves over and over. Whether it is medicine, law, aviation, science, or governance, women are thriving. They run countries, lead corporations, and redefine success across every domain. Yet, a slice of society continues to believe that a male child holds higher value—a belief not just outdated but dangerous. In the Indian context, this preference has deep cultural roots. Traditionally, lineage and inheritance have been perceived as the domain of the male child. Whether it's lighting the funeral pyre or passing down the family name and business, the responsibility has always been reserved for sons. 'A father cannot exist without a mother,' I remind my patients, yet many still hesitate to envision a daughter performing these roles. Underpinning these decisions are centuries-old expectations and pressures. Indian women are often burdened—silently or overtly—with the expectation of giving birth to a boy. I've seen couples devastated by the birth of a second girl. I've met women emotionally blackmailed—threatened with abandonment or divorce—because they failed to provide a 'male heir.' And I've had educated, affluent couples ask for male sex selection in IVF simply to appease family elders with ideas of inheritance and legacy. To such couples, I ask: Why not a girl? Can't she lead your legacy, inherit your business, care for aging parents, and bring the same joy, prosperity, and pride? Yet, most often, my questions are met with awkward chuckles and patronizing smiles. We remain shackled by beliefs that a male child is central to carrying forward the family line—beliefs that desperately need to change. Denied legal sex selection in India, many such couples head to international clinics in Dubai, Thailand, or Singapore, where the practice is not illegal, thus legitimizing their biased preferences. But regardless of venue or legality, the problematic sentiment remains the same. Here in India, our laws are clear. The Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, amended in 2003, strictly prohibits sex selection before or after conception. While illegal centers do continue to operate, the government has intensified scrutiny to curb this menace. However, this vigilance, while necessary, often leads to undue pressure on ethical doctors and innocent couples navigating the IVF journey the right way. Beyond legal enforcement, however, we must shift mindsets. Education and public awareness campaigns should aim to dismantle these damaging beliefs. Legal reform alone won't suffice; societal expectations, especially those that quietly coerce women into choosing male offspring, must be publicly challenged. Empowering women economically can create ripples of change. IVF may be a gift of science, but how we choose to use it reveals who we are as a society. Until every child, regardless of gender, is equally welcomed and celebrated, the work remains unfinished. (The writer is Dr. Rhythm Bhalla is a senior gynaecologist based in Chandigarh)
The Hindu
01-08-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Submit report on all abortion cases in Chittoor district, Collector directs officials
District Collector Sumit Kumar on Friday instructed officials of the Medical and Health Department to immediately verify all abortion cases reported in both government and private hospitals and submit a detailed report to ascertain the causes. He was addressing a meeting on the implementation of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act. Emphasising the importance of promoting safe and normal deliveries in government hospitals and primary health centres (PHCs), Mr. Sumit Kumar said that each PHC should aim to conduct at least 50 normal deliveries per month. The Collector warned of disciplinary action against officials found negligent in their duties, especially those ignoring the activities of unqualified practitioners involved in illegal procedures. 'Centres violating medical norms must be shut down immediately,' he said. He also directed ASHA workers, Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs), and Anganwadi staff to closely monitor abortion trends and report any suspicious activity confidentially. Stressing the need for monthly inspections, public awareness campaigns, and coordinated departmental efforts, Mr. Sumit Kumar said that strong measures were necessary to curb sex determination practices. He warned that criminal proceedings would be initiated against violators and scanning centres found conducting illegal gender determination tests.
Time of India
28-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Special teams to inspect fertility centres across city
Hyderabad: In the wake of a fake surrogacy racket bust in the city, the health dept on Monday formed around 25 to 30 special teams of doctors. Starting Tuesday, these teams will visit fertility centres, both registered and unregistered, if any, across Hyderabad over the next fortnight to verify their registration. A senior official from the health dept said that, along with the registered centres, the teams will also check if any unregistered centres are operating in the city. "The teams will verify the registration documents, equipment validity, their HR status, pharmacy operations, and if there are any unregistered ultrasound machines violating the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act. Apart from these, the teams will also visit autism, wellness, and other centres. If any of these are found unregistered or is found to be flouting the rules, they will be seized immediately and a case will be registered," officials said. According to official estimates, there are about 158 registered fertility centres in Hyderabad. This includes 27 assisted reproductive technology (ART) centres, 27 ART-level 1 centres, 72 ART-level 2 centres, and 32 surrogacy centres. "While there might be unregistered quack clinics, physiotherapy centres, and small labs, it is very rare that fertility centres will be unregistered. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like If you have a mouse, play this game for 1 minute Navy Quest Undo There might be some unregistered fertility centres running in the city, but we will get the exact picture only after a fortnight," the official added. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad In the Srushti fertility centre case, officials found that the clinic was also violating the PCPNDT Act, as an ultrasound scanning machine was found on the premises, raising suspicions of sex determination. "After the licence of the centre was suspended in 2021, the accused told the court that the hospital was closed, but they ran it covertly. We suspect that she was running it at night, just like many quacks in the old city, which is why it escaped the eyes of our officials, who would go for inspections during the daytime," officials said. Moreover, the complainants in the present case approached her in Hyderabad, but she told them that the delivery took place in Visakhapatnam, which shows that she did not want to operate from a single place as it would have exposed her malicious intentions, said the official, adding that they come across around four to five cases of child trafficking annually involving fertility centres, quacks, and others.
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Foeticide suspicions rise as Haryana reports 1,153 late abortions in 3 months
GURGAON: Haryana has recorded 1,153 abortions beyond 12 weeks of pregnancy across its 22 districts in just three months, raising concerns about possible female foeticide as the cases were found to involve couples with one or more daughters. The figures - compiled by the special task force monitoring the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act - have prompted the health department to order an investigation into the cases. Additional chief secretary (health) Sudhir Rajpal has asked all districts to register pregnancies and scrutinise late-term abortions, particularly in cases where couples already have daughters. Civil surgeons will spearhead these investigations. The govt has also formed its own team of senior medical officers and surgeons to verify these cases. Officials said they were particularly concerned about terminations in the second trimester as it coincides with the period when foetal sex can be illegally determined through ultrasound. District-wise data shows Ambala leading with 104 cases, followed by Faridabad (96), Jind (93), Panipat (86), Sonipat (76), Kaithal (73), Karnal (69), Jhajjar (64), Hisar (57), Gurgaon (54), Kurukshetra (50), and Charkhi Dadri (49). by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 요즘 SNS에서 핫한 그 반지, 기부로 받을 수 있다고? 굿네이버스 더 알아보기 Undo You Can Also Check: Gurgaon AQI | Weather in Gurgaon | Bank Holidays in Gurgaon | Public Holidays in Gurgaon "The officials assigned to probe the termination of pregnancies will report to the National Health Mission headquarters and assist in auditing RMNCH+A (reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health) indicators. They will also review these second-trimester abortion records, with a particular focus on compliance with the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act and PCPNDT Act," a senior health official said. The high number of terminations comes at a time when 13 of Haryana's 22 districts have reported a decline in sex ratio at birth. Last year, the state's overall ratio dropped to 910 - its lowest since 2016. Several districts under scrutiny, such as Ambala, Jhajjar, Sonipat, and Panipat, have historically shown skewed sex ratios. Health officials acknowledged that while abortion was legal till 20 weeks of pregnancy and under certain conditions, procedures conducted beyond 12 weeks often triggered suspicions of female foeticide in areas with a track record of gender bias. "In the wake of the latest figures, we cannot rule out the possibility that many of these abortions may have been sought after illegally determining the foetal sex. This requires immediate investigation," an official said. The govt investigation, officials said, will examine whether registered MTP centres follow proper documentation and referral protocols, and identify any illegal clinics operating covertly.
