Hry sets up 'state task force' to improve sex ratio; announce stringent measures

OFFICIALS WERE DIRECTED TO TRACK ANY AYURVEDIC PRACTITIONER (BAMS) INVOLVED IN CONDUCTING ILLEGAL MTPS

- Pawan Sharma

CHANDIGARH: In a bid to further tighten the noose on those surreptitiously involved in gender determination and female foeticide, Haryana's health department on Tuesday set up a 12-member "State Task Force" to intensify surveillance and enforcement under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC-PNDT) Act.

The government has also decided to appoint five women sarpanches, preferably with all-girl children, as brand ambassadors for "Beti Bachao Beti Padhao" to drive community engagement in the campaign.

This renewed push comes as Haryana continues to battle a low sex ratio at birth, with authorities vowing stricter enforcement and increased public awareness to address the issue. As Haryana's skewed sex ratio remains a cause for concern, the raft of measures taken on Tuesday signal a renewed crackdown on illegal practices and an emphasis on grassroots engagement.

"I chaired yet another meeting on Tuesday to address the issue of sex ratio. The raids will continue to curb the practice of sex determination. And we shall come down heavily on those selling Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) kits illegally," additional chief secretary (health and family welfare) Sudhir Rajpal told Hindustan Times.