Fate of female foetuses agitates women MPs

New Delhi, Aug 14 (UNI) Women members in the Rajya Sabha, cutting across party lines, today expressed grave concern over the reports of mass killing of female foetuses in Punjab and demanded strict implementation of the PNDT Act.

Impelled by their agitation, the Chairman directed the Health Minister to implement the assurance he had given to the House in the last session regarding steps to curb the evil practices.

The women members said that despite the law, killing of female foetuses was taking place with full involvement of doctors, which was a shame for the country, and the government should immediately take effective and strict steps to check such practices.

Ms Viplove Thakur of the Congress, who raised the issue during Zero Hour, said the number of women in the population of Haryana and Punjab was going down alarmingly, and it was high time, the government acted.

Ms Sushma Swaraj of the BJP said the issue was discussed in the House during the last session with so much detail, but the government does not seem to have paid any heed to the Members' concern.

Ms Maya Singh of the same party said the incident of mass killing of female foetuses in Punjab was a blot on a civil society.

Ms Brinda Karat demanded that the Health Minister implement his assurance he had given to the House in the last session.

She said killing of female foetuses involved active involvement of a section of doctors, so it was a must that some steps should be taken to put a check on them.

The Chairman directed the Health Minister to implement the assurance he had given to the House the last session.

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