Dilution Of PC PNDT Act By Health Ministry

Union Health Ministry has agreed to make certain changes in the draconian PC-PNDT Act. This decision has angered many doctors and women’s rights activists who fear that the proposed amendments will weaken this act and further aggravate the imbalanced sex ratio in the country.

The PC-PNDT Act 1994, which was enacted with the aim to curb female feticide, has failed to improve the sex ratio in the country despite being in existence for over 20 years. Even a smallest error in compliance of the Act, either in sex determination or non-maintenance of records, brings heavy penalty on the errant. Thus, implementation of this draconian Act has major negative consequences.

Therefore, IMA has been demanding major revisions in the PC-PNDT Act since 2015, stating that “In its current form, the implementation of the Pre-Conception, Pre-Natal Diagnostic Technique (PCPNDT) Act has deprived the community of life-saving and essential ultrasonography which has now become an extension of clinical practice for all specialties globally, being a well-known non-invasive, cost-effective and accurate diagnostic tool.” (The Hindu, October 25 2015)

In this regard, IMA had 2 key demands:

• There will be “graded punishments” in case of violations of the act
• Non-obstetric ultrasound centers will not be required to be registered anywhere.

The health ministry has agreed to these changes and the changes are likely to come within next 45 days.

A women’s right activist who was instrumental in the framing of the PC-PNDT act said that “Specifically, the strong deterrent sections will be amended by bringing in graded punishments which will lead to conversion of criminal offenses into technical deficiencies (clerical errors).” (New Indian Express 10 April 2018)

Source: New Indian Express