Female foeticide goes up in India
Janus
SEETHALAKSHMI S
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
ANGALORE: Alarmed over the increasing number of female foeticide
cases, the Karnataka government has written to all manufacturers of
ultra-sonograph equipment to furnish a list of their clients.
Misuse of ultra-sonography by hundreds of unlicensed clinics has led
to female foeticide being rampant in several districts in the state.
The female sex-ratio had also declined in many districts due to this
dangerous practice, official sources told The Times of India.
"Ultra-sonography is abused for determining the sex of the foetus,
though it is meant only to check any abnormalities in the foetus. As a
result, female foeticide is rampant. Once we get the list of people
who are purchasing these equipment, it will be easier for us to crack
the whip," the sources said.
Interestingly, a survey conducted by the government revealed that only
12 to 14 of the nearly 500 ultra-sound clinics were registered. The
government has now issued notices to all centres using ultra-sound
scanning to compulsorily register.
According to Human Genetics Professor Manorama Thomas, who is heading
the state-advisory committee to check the incidence of female
foeticide, there are centres which conducted sex-determination tests
for as low as Rs 100. It is a tough job for the committee to zero in
on people abusing the ultra-sound for determining the sex of the
foetus.
"If there are people who want to know the sex of the child, there are
doctors to provide it for a price. So who is to complain?," a
government official said.
The government is now planning to send teams in disguise to get
first-hand information. The committee comprising Rajamma, Department
of Paediatrics, Vani Vilas hospital, Benkappa from the Institute of
Child Health, Bangalore, besides representatives from the women and
child development department, health and family welfare and
non-government organisations, will also conduct surprise inspections.
Ironically, there were doctors who were providing mobile services to
people. "Many are willing to go to the patient's home and conduct the
test. This will ensure that they are not exposed. The doctors carry
the equipment with them," the sources said.
Yet another reason for the rise in the female foeticide in the state
is the misuse of medical termination of pregnancy (MTP). On an
average, there are nearly six to seven pregnancies terminated every
month in each district and reports are silent on the sex of the foetus
that is terminated.
Last year, following a public interest litigation, the Supreme Court
directed all the states to constitute appropriate authorities to check
incidence of female foeticide.
On its part, Karnataka has already filed a compliance report in the
Supreme Court on the measures initiated by the government, which
includes setting up of the state supervisory committee and district
committees to ensure that all centres possessing diagnostic equipment
are registered with the government.