Centre to bring stricter laws on female foeticide

New Delhi, Dec 18: The Centre will soon amend the Pre-Conception and Pre-Diagnosic Act to provide for stricter penalty to act as an effective the terrent against female foeticide in the context of the declining male-female ratio.

Saying that the dwindling female population is a serious, sensitive and emotive issue, Health and Family Welfare Minister Anbumoni Ramadoss said the Central Suervisory Board (CSB) would meet next month to discuss the changes to be made in the existing act to make the law more effective.

Replying to a calling attention motion, Dr Ramadoss said the sex ratio in India had declined from 972 girls per 1000 boys in 1901 to 927 in 1991. Census 2001 figures have revealed that the sex ratio in the country has, however, improved in the last decade. The national figures of 927 females per 1000 males in the Census 1991 has moved to 933 in 2001, he added.

Pointing out that female foeticide is not only medical but also a social issue, he said the government had taken several measures to reduce incidence of female foeticide.

He said he had convened a meeting of women members in Parliament and also the MPs from the states of Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh, which had recorded a dismal male-female ratio, but the response was not encouraging.

Dr Ramadoss said his ministry had decided to release Rs five lakh every year to the MPs from the five states with the lowest sex ratio for carrying out a campaign against female foeticide in their constituencies.

In this context, he asked the MPs to take an initiative in the fight against female foeticide.

Dr Ramadoss said he had been meeting religious leaders seeking their help to create awareness among the people regarding the importance of girl child to a family and society.

He said research studies...EDs. here pick up from para three of PAR 18 "Female-Foeticide LS."

UNI