Gender priority

Patna, April 3: Experts and doctors today claimed that the declining child gender ratio — which had fallen from 942 girls per 1,000 boys in 2001 to 933 per 1,000 this year — indicated that the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PNDT) Act, 1994, for prohibition of sex selection is not being enforced in the state.

According to experts, the PNDT Act envisages regulations for the use of pre-natal diagnostic techniques such as ultrasound for the purpose of detecting genetic or metabolic disorders, chromosomal abnormality, certain congenital malformations or sex-related disorders among the babies in the womb. Many doctors believe that even though sex-determination tests are completely banned, the practice is rampant, resulting in foeticide and a skewed sex ratio.

“According to the Act, expecting mothers are supposed to give an undertaking to the diagnostic centres that the diagnostic purpose is confined to checking the growth of the babies and has no link with the sex determination exercise. However the rule is not complied with in many cases,” explained Dr Ramjas Ram, the assistant director, Public Health Institute, Patna.

Most doctors said the state and the administration had to enforce the Act more strictly. Dr Kumkum Prasad, a gynaecologist from Bettiah, said in many cases doctors tell pregnant women or their families about the sex of the foetus, without providing them anything in written. Women, then, abort the child if it is a girl.

“In such cases, it becomes very difficult to nab the violation. This unethical practice has to be stopped by people and medical professionals,” Prasad said. Dr Abha Rani Sinha, a gynaecologist with Patna Medical College and Hospital, also underlined the importance of strictly implementing the PNDT Act to reduce the imbalance in the sex ratio.

“It is unfortunate that both men and women are unable to get rid of their yearning to have at least one male child. Pre-natal tests are only meant to rule out the presence of certain hereditary diseases in the baby and not to ascertain the gender. Hence I appeal to all doctors not to misuse these tests,” Sinha said.

Foetuses recovered

Altogether 16 foetuses, four to six months old, were recovered in Kishanganj today. Superintendent of police Ranjit Mishra said prima facie it appeared to be a case of illegal abortions. Raids are on at nearby private nursing homes to check illegal practices.