15 USG centres in Lucknow involved in sex-determination

Lucknow: Is the ban sex determination of fetus, seen as first step towards sex-selective abortions, being violated in the state capital? Indications to this effect came to fore in a meeting to review implementation of Beti Bachao Beti Paadhao campaign in the city.
As many as 15 ultrasound centres in Lucknow have come under the radar of the district administration for involvement in the sex determination in gross violation of the Pre Conception, Pre Natal Diagnostics Techniques (prevention of sex determination ) (PCPNDT) Act.
"The findings are based on the mapping of ultrasound centres in the city. The 15 centres under doubt are being monitored discreetly so that they can be caught red handed," said Raj Shehkar, district magistrate Lucknow. There are 500 ultrasound centres in Lucknow district.
About the action taken to address the issue, Shekhar said, "additional city magistrates and sub-divisional magistrates in the area where the ultrasound centres in question are located have been asked to examine their activities so that they are caught in action."
Refusing to further divulge the plan, Shekhar admitted that several gaps came to fore as far as implementation of the PCPNDT act and activities of the district task force in city was concerned.
"We have got the information that some 15-20 ultrasound centres on city outskirts were working without proper registration. Orders have been issued to verify the documents," he stated.
It was also revealed in the meeting that prosecution of various cases lodged under PCPNDT Act were not being pursued properly. In this regard, the DM said, "we do not have a full time district probation officer which has affected this area. Request has been made to the government to appoint an experienced person."
Weak committee: District Advisory Committee (DAC), comprising eight members, is the backbone for effective implementation of PCPNDT. But, DAC is not working properly according to facts presented in the review meeting. "Its constitution is improper. There is no chairperson while three of eight members are yet to be appointed," said an officer who attended the meeting. "The DAC serves as an agency which approves or rejects applications for renewal of registration for ultrasound clinic when it should be addressing the issue with a perspective," said an NGO stake-holder in the DAC.
Flawed record-keeping: The PCPNDT Cell at CMO office is supposed to keep hard copies of Form-F (the crucial document that helps in detecting if norms under PCPNDT act was being followed or not). But documents presented in the review meeting suggest that records are not being maintained properly. The DAC is supposed to upload minutes of its meeting on the website made by state health department but it has not done.