Punjab minister calls to check female foeticide

Chandigarh, Mar 12 (UNI) Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla today assumed charge of her ministry, with a message to check female foeticide in the state.

''Checking and curbing the menance of female foeticide will be on the top of her agenda'', she said in her message to the doctors and para medical staff.

She called upon senior officers and functionaries of the Health Department to make all efforts to ensure that proper health care facilities are made avaliable to the people, in particular the rural population.

Referring to illegal practices in the health institutions, she said that medico-legal cases should be handled with utmost care and any leniency in such cases would not be tolerated. Strict action would be taken against the erring health officials, she added.

Making a fervent appeal to all the doctors and the para medical staff, the minister said that the medical practitioners should discharge their duties with devotion and dedication and uphold the dignity of their noble profession.

UNI