C Ward's alarming sex ratio points to a murky underbelly
Girgaon, Thakurdwar and Chandanwadi, which comprise BMC's C ward, have been found to have a dismal sex ratio of 837 females for every 1,000 males.
Task forces, set up under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994, find this figure alarming. The average sex ratio in India is 954. "If it falls down below 900, it is considered as alarming. Last time, the sex ratio in C ward was 805. It has increased very slowly, but we need to go to root causes to stop the female foeticide," said a task force member advocate Varsha Deshpande.
Two years ago, when the machinery was geared up against female foeticide and illegal sonography machines, the PCPNDT task force was formed by the BMC. It was expected that the task force, which is headed by additional municipal commissioner, will meet once in a month. However, this time the task force meeting was called after long seven months.
BMC has now registered 128 'genetic labs' officially. These medical centres, which offer treatment with 15 specialised procedures for infertility, were not registered with BMC earlier. However, after a government resolution which made the registration of genetic labs compulsory, registration began. Despite that, many centres have not registered with the BMC, claim activists.
"None of these genetic labs are reporting the final result of the newborn babies' sex with BMC officially. How would we know if there is any wrong practice going on without monitoring the final results of all the genetic labs? We have demanded that all labs should register the results, which should be discussed in the next meeting of the task force," said another member from the task force on the condition of anonymity.
Since 2011, around 30 cases have been registered under the PCPNDT Act in the city. In three cases, BMC got conviction and four got acquittal. In nine cases, charges were framed by courts. 1437 sonography centres and 25,000 machines are registered in the city. BMC task force member and a senior officer of BMC said, "All the cases are sent to Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) for the cancellation of the registration of the concerned doctors. All cases are pending with MMC."
The second most alarming sex ratio of 905 females per 1,000 males was reported from A ward, including Colaba and Navy Nagar. Western suburbs, including Borivali and Kandivali are also facing the same problem.
There are 17 showcause notices sent to doctors for breach of the PCPNDT Act and cases are registered against 12 doctors. Last year, 6,230 inspections were done at sonography centres and and 1693 inspections were done this year. However, not a single irregularity was found at any of the centres. "If the sex ratio is not improving at some wards and BMC officers are not finding any irregularities either, isn't it surprising? It just shows that all is well at sonography and genetic centres, but all not with baby girls," said Deshpande.
BMC executive officer Dr Padmaja Keskar was not available for comment despite repeated attempts.
Task forces, set up under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994, find this figure alarming. The average sex ratio in India is 954. "If it falls down below 900, it is considered as alarming. Last time, the sex ratio in C ward was 805. It has increased very slowly, but we need to go to root causes to stop the female foeticide," said a task force member advocate Varsha Deshpande.
Two years ago, when the machinery was geared up against female foeticide and illegal sonography machines, the PCPNDT task force was formed by the BMC. It was expected that the task force, which is headed by additional municipal commissioner, will meet once in a month. However, this time the task force meeting was called after long seven months.
Criticising such apathy, Deshpande said, "Saving the girl child should be our priority. We were told in the meeting that the proposal to create seven 'zonal committees' to implement PCPNDT Act is pending with state government for more than a year now. In a city like Mumbai, appropriate authorities and one task force is not enough to fight an issue. We have to start with zone level monitoring."
BMC has now registered 128 'genetic labs' officially. These medical centres, which offer treatment with 15 specialised procedures for infertility, were not registered with BMC earlier. However, after a government resolution which made the registration of genetic labs compulsory, registration began. Despite that, many centres have not registered with the BMC, claim activists.
"None of these genetic labs are reporting the final result of the newborn babies' sex with BMC officially. How would we know if there is any wrong practice going on without monitoring the final results of all the genetic labs? We have demanded that all labs should register the results, which should be discussed in the next meeting of the task force," said another member from the task force on the condition of anonymity.
Since 2011, around 30 cases have been registered under the PCPNDT Act in the city. In three cases, BMC got conviction and four got acquittal. In nine cases, charges were framed by courts. 1437 sonography centres and 25,000 machines are registered in the city. BMC task force member and a senior officer of BMC said, "All the cases are sent to Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) for the cancellation of the registration of the concerned doctors. All cases are pending with MMC."
The second most alarming sex ratio of 905 females per 1,000 males was reported from A ward, including Colaba and Navy Nagar. Western suburbs, including Borivali and Kandivali are also facing the same problem.
There are 17 showcause notices sent to doctors for breach of the PCPNDT Act and cases are registered against 12 doctors. Last year, 6,230 inspections were done at sonography centres and and 1693 inspections were done this year. However, not a single irregularity was found at any of the centres. "If the sex ratio is not improving at some wards and BMC officers are not finding any irregularities either, isn't it surprising? It just shows that all is well at sonography and genetic centres, but all not with baby girls," said Deshpande.
BMC executive officer Dr Padmaja Keskar was not available for comment despite repeated attempts.
