Officials Vow Strict Action Against Sex Determination: PCPNDT Act Reviewed in Jogulamba Gadwal
Gadwal: A District Advisory Committee meeting on the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994, was held at the District Medical and Health Department Office in Jogulamba Gadwal under the chairmanship of Dr. S.K. Siddappa, District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO). The meeting focused on reviewing the implementation of the PCPNDT Act and ensuring strict compliance across all departments.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Siddappa emphasized the urgent need to spread awareness at the field level about the ban on sex determination tests and the legal consequences of female foeticide. He urged officials from various line departments to engage with communities regularly to educate people about the Act, especially in rural and remote areas.
Highlighting the seriousness of the issue, the DMHO stated that any person or medical professional found violating the PCPNDT Act would face up to 3 years of imprisonment, a fine of ₹50,000, and non-bailable charges. Repeat offenders could face 5 years in prison and fines up to ₹1 lakh. In addition, the licenses of medical practitioners and the registration of clinics involved could be suspended or permanently cancelled.
Dr. Siddappa also called for widespread awareness of related laws, such as the POCSO Act and the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, which are crucial for protecting women and children's rights. He further advised that pregnant women experiencing mental health issues should be made aware of the 14416 toll-free helpline, which offers free mental health support.
The meeting was attended by key health and welfare officials, including Dr. B. Damayanthi, Professor and HOD, Dr. G. Prasoona Rani, Maternal and Child Health Officer, Tanveer Rizwana, District Immunization Officer, Dr. G. Raju, Program Officer, NCVBDCP, K. Madhusudan Reddy, Deputy DEMO, P. Narendra Babu, DVLM, G. Narasayya, Health Assistant, and B. Narsinglu, District Child Protection Officer. Representatives from the Women and Child Welfare Department, the SAHKI One Stop Centre, and NGOs such as Parashuramudu also participated.
The meeting concluded with a unanimous resolution to intensify interdepartmental cooperation, enhance monitoring mechanisms, and ensure that all diagnostic centers strictly adhere to the PCPNDT Act. Officials reiterated their commitment to protecting the rights of the girl child and improving the gender ratio in the district.
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.
