Nullifying violations of PCPNDT Act should be ensured, says Coimbatore collector
Coimbatore: Dr R M Meenakshi Sundari, the joint director (Acts) of the Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services (DM&RHS), Chennai, has stressed the need to strictly enforce the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act.
"Although the Act is in force, achieving 100% compliance remains a challenge," Dr Sundari said while addressing a one-day training programme for medical staff from across the Coimbatore region in the city on Thursday.
Health officials, medical practitioners, and representatives of diagnostic centres from both government and private sectors from Tirupur, Nilgiris, Erode and Coimbatore districts participated in the programme.
District collector Pavankumar G Giriyappanavar released an exclusive PCPNDT Act book during the programme.
While addressing the participants, the collector said, "The Act pertains to addressing the ethical and social issues of sex determination of a child. Due to the effective enforcement of this Act, Tamil Nadu has been showing a better sex ratio when compared to other states. Even then, achieving 100% compliance and nullifying violations of this Act should be ensured, for which the training programme is necessary. The programme is organised to underscore the legal nuances and provide a platform to discuss the improvements or changes required in the Act.
"
Dr Sundari presented a few litigation cases from 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2008 that led to streamlining the Act and providing clarity on its enforcement.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
16 hours ago
- Time of India
RTI reply flags rise in teen pregnancies in Madurai PHCs
Madurai: As many as 1,127 teen pregnancies below 18 years of age were recorded in 2023 and 2024 in primary health centres (PHCs) in Madurai district, according to the latest response received by a health activist to a Right to Information (RTI) Act petition. The reply received by activist A Veronica Mary said 698 teen pregnancies were recorded last year alone. It showed that the most teen pregnancies during the period of query were reported in Saptur, T Pudupatti, and Viradhanur. "Any teen pregnancy under 18 years of age by default is a crime, be it through child marriage, sexual assault, or love affair. While some cases are being reported through the childline 1098, it is also the duty of the health department staff to report all such cases," she said. She said some teen pregnancies (below 18 years of age) are going unreported to police and other departments due to ambiguous claims by parents about the child's age. This should be looked into. Health officials maintained that in case of minors, all teen pregnancy cases are reported by doctors to police and social welfare department, as per protocol. Activists have called for a comprehensive plan to create awareness among teen girls and boys and better surveillance to bring down the numbers. K Saravanan, president, Peace Club, who has organised awareness programmes about child sexual abuse, said teen pregnancies are part of a larger issue of parental negligence. "Teen pregnancies are more prevalent in communities and areas where parents are poor economically and are often absent in their children's lives. Even if they are present, some of them may be abusive towards their spouses. Hence, children isolate themselves and engage in love affairs for attention without knowing the consequences," he said. He said teachers can play a positive role in the lives of such children and watch out for signs and get them help. P Premalatha, chairperson, child welfare committee (CWC), Madurai, urged the public to come forward to alert and report if they know of any case of child marriage or child abuse. "In case of a minor being pregnant, we counsel the child and parents and support them in getting abortion if possible or have the child born and surrendered. Safety and security is important for the teen in such a stressful situation," she said.
The Hindu
20 hours ago
- The Hindu
Global recognition for Karnataka's Tobacco Control Cell
Karnataka's State Tobacco Control Cell has been honoured by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for excellence in tobacco control in the South-East Asia region. Each year, the WHO recognises and felicitates the best performing States in the South-East Asia region for their exemplary efforts in tobacco control. Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao received the award from WHO representatives in Bengaluru on Saturday. COTPA amendment Tightening tobacco control laws, the Karnataka government last month notified major amendments to the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, on the occasion of the World No Tobacco Day observed on May 31. The amendments — through which the maximum fine for violations under tobacco control laws has been increased from ₹200 to ₹1,000, and the legal age for purchasing tobacco products been raised from 18 to 20 years — were approved by President Droupadi Murmu on May 23. The amended Act — the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) (Karnataka Amendment) Act, 2024 — was published in the Karnataka Gazette on May 30.
The Hindu
a day ago
- The Hindu
Concern over ‘non-translation' of teenage pregnancies into POCSO Act cases
Based on Right To Information (RTI) data, an activist has expressed concern over the alleged non-translation of teenage pregnancies into Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act cases in Madurai district. As per the RTI obtained by A. Veronica Mary, a health activist based in Madurai, in the 87 Primary Health Centres (PHC), 55 in rural and 32 in urban, located in the district, a total of 1,127 deliveries were performed in teenagers, aged under 18, between 2023 and 2024. While 429 deliveries were registered in 2023, 698 deliveries were performed in 2024, according to the data. Of all the PHCs in the district, Saptur PHC with 31 deliveries stood first, and T. Pudhupatti PHC with 30 deliveries, Virathanur PHC with 29 deliveries, Kancharampettai PHC and Thaniyamangalam PHC with 26 deliveries and Thumbaipatti PHC 25, followed in the list. Ms. Mary, pointing out the appalling number of teenage pregnancies recorded in the PHCs, questioned whether all of the pregnancies had been translated into POCSO. As per the system, the doctor or the hospital or the institution, whoever is first learning about the pregnancy of a minor girl, either through Child Line number 1098 or through available means, should inform the district administration, she added. Following the registration of the complaint, the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) or the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) should inform the police in addition to providing counselling or support to the victim, Ms. Mary stated. While there was a system or mechanism to bring the issue of teenage pregnancy to the notice of the police to follow up on the matter, the difference in POCSO cases in comparison with the RTI data showed that there existed a gap in the process, she alleged. Instead of reacting to such minor pregnancies, Social Welfare Department officials along with the Police Department should carry out awareness campaigns in schools and villages, she suggested. A social welfare department official who did not want to be named said that any information they receive regarding minor marriage or pregnancy, would be informed to the police. 'Even doctors are directed to inform the DCPU or social welfare department about the teenage pregnancies they come across. So, we have a tab on all such incidents in the district,' the official added.
