Legislation not enough to deal with decline child sex ratio: Ramados

New Delhi, Dec 7 (UNI) While stating that the Government was committed to check a decline in child sex ratio in India through a number of legislative measures, Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss told the Rajya Sabha, merely passing legislations was not enough to deal with the problem which has its roots in social behaviour.

In a reply during Question Hour, the Minister noted that the practise of female foeticide is a social evil practised since decades. It is seen to be more prevalent in affluent sections of society.

''Infact, some progressive states like Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh have witnessed a steady decline in sex ratio in recent years.'' Mr Ramadoss said the Government had taken several legislative measures to check the declining child sex ratio in India.

''The Pre natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1994 has been amended to make it more comprehensive.

Also, the technique of pre-conception sex selection has been brought under the ambit of the Act so as to pre empt the use of such technologies which significantly contribute to the declining sex ratio.

The Central Supervisory Board constituted in terms of the Act has been empowered from monitoring implementation of the Act.

The national Inspection and Monitoring Committee has been constituted at the Centre to carry out frequent field inspections and report to concerned state government to take corrective measure with regard to violation of the Act,''the Minister said.

Acknowledging, however, that legislation was not enough to tackle the problem, Mr Ramadoss said,''various activities have been undertaken to create awareness against the practise of pre natal sex determination. We have been engaging in this regard civil societies, religious leaders and non governmental organisations to spread the message that this practise is a social evil.

Training of the Judiciary and other legal professionals are undertaken to sensitize them on issues relating to PNDT Act.'' In this context, he said that the Government had started a campaign to "save the girl" child in which celebrities like tennis player Sania Mirza had been roped in as brand ambassador.

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