“Missing Girls” – Current legal and social challenges

 

Taking into account the alarming trend of declining child sex ratio and its causes, the amended Act - Pre Conception and Pre Natal Diagnostic Technique (Prohibition of Sex Selection) – was enacted in 2003. The Act renders any act of sex selection illegal and stipulates legal restrictions on the owners and operators of the Ultrasound clinics, such as registration, maintaining records of all pregnancy related procedures and such other.

 

A team of Central Supervisory Board, a body set up by the Act to oversee the strict implementation of its guidelines, recently made surprise visits to a few Hospitals in Mumbai and Pune. The team found irregularities in record maintenance, even among well reputed hospitals, and took action to seal the machines. This and the following course of action indicate serious gaps in adherence and implementation of the PCPNDT Act. The future of the girl child is made even dismal, when such apathy towards the Act colludes with the prevalent social mindset that prefers son to daughter. Therefore, a public dialogue is required to meet the legal and social challenges in addressing the issue of ‘missing girls’.

 

The programme organised by Center for Youth Development and Activities (CYDA) on this issue, which will have a panel discussion, followed by question-answer session.

 

CYDA has recently conducted a national level study on the issue of declining child sex ratio with Lead Consultant Josantony Joseph, which was commissioned by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), India. The report of the study will also be released on the occasion.

 

Panel:

1. Dr. Rajshekhar Iyer, Medical Director and Appropriate Authority, PCMC
2. Dr. Devendra Shirole, Senior Secretary, IMA, Maharashtra
3. Audry Fernandes, Social Activist, Tathapi and member of the Advisory Committee, PCPNDT Cell, Pune District
4. Josantony Joseph, Lead Consultant to the UNFPA commissioned study

 

Date: Wednesday, 4^th April 2007

Time: 4.00 to 6.00 pm

Venue: Shramik Patrakar Sangh Auditorium, Ganjave Chowk, Pune

 

For more information and participation contact

Mr. Mathew Mattam,

CYDA
Ph: 020 – 25533168 email: cyda@...