ANI |
Updated: Mar 26, 2023 00:40 IST

Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], March 26 (ANI): Considering the low sex ratio in some districts of Punjab, state Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh on Saturday ordered strict compliance of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC-PNDT) act within the state.
The minister instructed well being authorities to take applicable steps to enhance the sex ratio within the state as Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab authorities took severe observe of the low sex ratio in some districts of the state.
Following instructions of the Cabinet Minister, Director Health Services (Family Welfare) Dr Ravinder Pal Kaur, who can be the designated Chairman of the State Appropriate Authority for implementation of the PC-PNDT act, constituted an inter-district crew of well being officers.
The crew members had been requested to hold out detailed inspections of all of the ultrasound scan services within the Gurdaspur district, which is the worst-performing district by way of sex ratio. The ratio within the district stands at 887 in comparison with the general state ratio of 926 as per the Civil Registration System (CRS) Report of 2021-2022.
Dr Ravinder Pal Kaur stated, “Strict instructions are in place for Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) and Health Workers to register a pregnancy within the first trimester, which greatly reduces the chance of any sex selection as the pregnant woman is tracked throughout her gestation period.”

Underlining the constructive outcomes of efforts by the Health Department, Dr Balbir Singh stated, “Ten districts in Punjab now have a higher sex ratio than the state average of 926, with districts SBS Nagar and Rupnagar top the list with a ratio of 948 and 946 respectively.”
“We will keep striving hard to improve the sex ratio across the state till the menace of female foeticide is completely eradicated from the state,” he added.
Divulging extra particulars, the Health Minister stated, “A total of 1861 ultrasound scan centres are registered in the state and Department has been carrying out frequent decoy operations (sting operation) to ensure that no ultrasound scan centres are violating the PC-PNDT act, besides, inspections are being carried out by the appropriate district authorities. If any scan centre is found violating the provisions of the PC-PNDT act, Punjab Government will immediately cancel the registration of that scan centre.”
Meanwhile, IEC actions are being carried out by the Health Department now and again to alter the behaviour and mindset of the folks, in order that they have no prejudice in opposition to the woman youngster.
Newborn women in hospitals throughout Punjab are given items on the event of Lohri and Navratras to have fun their delivery.
This yr too a state-level Lohri perform was organised in Patiala to have fun the woman youngster. Seminars and consciousness actions are additionally being carried out all year long. (ANI)