JAMMU: Secretary of Health and Medical Education, Bhupinder Kumar, today chaired a one-day orientation workshop organized by National Health Mission, J&K, on the effective implementation of PC&PNDT, Act 1994 at Convention Centre, Canal Road, Jammu.
Speaking on the occasion Bhupinder Kumar emphasized upon the importance of effective implementation of the PC&PNDT Act. He said that the child sex ratio is an important indicator of the social health of any society and any kind of decline in the sex ratio can be detrimental to the demography of the region which can ultimately imbalance the whole system of mankind.
Secretary said that the government is quite serious and firm enough for taking any measures required for balancing the sex ratio. He said that to usher in a healthy child sex ratio and curtail the menace of sex selection, the implementation mechanism of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994 needs to be strengthened at all levels. He further stressed upon the officers to ensure no violation of the Act takes place in the first place and any violation in this regard shall be dealt with strictly.
Secretary emphasized for evolving a robust mechanism to curb all illegal practices. He also stressed that regular meetings of Regulatory Bodies/Committees should be conducted at all levels. He also asked for ensuring regular inspections/surprise visits by the Appropriate Authorities at each level. He said that religious leaders, schools, colleges, and Panchayati Raj Institutions should be involved in spreading awareness about female foeticide and its consequences.
Speaking on the occasion, Ayushi Sudan, Mission Director, NHM, J&K, informed that a defined regulatory mechanism has been established under the PC&PNDT Act and regulatory bodies/committees have been constituted at all levels. These committees, including UT Supervisory Board, UT Level Task Force, Divisional Advisory Committees, and Divisional Appropriate Authorities/District Appropriate Authorities, have been entrusted with the task of strengthening the mechanism of implementation of the PC&PNDT, Act. There is a need for a collaborative approach on the part of all stakeholders for effective implementation of the Act, she maintained.
Ifat Hamid, Lead Consultant, Gender and PNDT, MoH&FW, and Dr. Saroj Agarwal, Consultant with Director General Health Services Haryana were resource persons during the workshop who gave detailed PowerPoint Presentations on different aspects of the PC&PNDT Act, rules, maintenance of record, powers of search, seize, Supreme Court Directives and other important concerns.
Among others, the workshop was attended by Dr Rajeev K Sharma, Director of Health Services, Jammu, Chief Medical Officers, Medical Superintendents, Block Medical Officers, Radiologists, Gynaecologists of Jammu division, and officers from State Health Society, NHM, J&K.
