Maharashtra Public Health Minister Prakash Abitkar revealed plans to establish a state-level task force and reconstitute committees to ensure the efficient enforcement of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act. The initiative aims to safeguard the female child birth rate and combat illegal sex determination practices. This announcement followed a discussion in the Legislative Council regarding the persistence of sex determination and abortion rackets despite the existence of the PCPNDT Act in the state.
Members of the Legislative Council engaged in the discussion, raising concerns about the ongoing illegal practices. Abitkar acknowledged the issues highlighted by the members and disclosed that the reward for successful decoy operations has been raised significantly to Rs 1,00,000 from Rs 10,000. Additionally, awareness campaigns are being conducted to address these challenges effectively.
Abitkar informed the House about the recent appointments made to key committees and boards responsible for monitoring and implementation. He emphasized the importance of translating decisions into tangible results through robust on-the-ground execution. The state-level task force, to be based in Pune, will oversee the real-time monitoring of PCPNDT Act enforcement across Maharashtra, with the involvement of female public representatives to ensure accountability and oversight.
Efforts are underway to streamline operations and eliminate legal gaps within the existing framework. The health minister expressed confidence that with district-wise reviews by public representatives, the enforcement of these measures will be more effective, thereby enhancing protection for the girl child.
