13 INITIATIVES TO IMPROVE SEX-RATIO IN PUNJAB

 In view of the steep decline in child sex-ratio in the decade 1991 to 2001, implementation of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex-Selection) Act 1994 is a top priority agenda of the Government. It includes enforcement of the Act as also social awareness campaign.

IMPORTANT STEPS TAKEN FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PC & PNDT ACT

·           Appropriate Authorities have been appointed for the implementation of this Act. i.e. Senior Medical Officer of the Sub Divisional Hospital at the Sub Divisional Level (49), Civil Surgeon at the district level (20) and a Multi Member State Appropriate Authority at the state level.

·           Chief Minister of Punjab directed the Deputy Commissioners to hold meetings with the ultrasonologists and include monitoring of sex-ratio as an agenda item during the monthly meetings at the district level.

·           A High Level State Advisory Committee has been constituted and persons representing NGOs working for the cause of the women at the National level have been incorporated as members of the State Advisory Committee.

·           Advisory Committees have been constituted at the district level (20) & sub-divisional level (49).

·           A State Supervisory Board under the Chairmanship of Hon’ble Health Minister has been constituted.

·           Important provisions of the PNDT Act to be followed by the ultrasonologists were published in Newspapers.

·           1325 ultrasound/genetic centers have been registered in the state.

·           All the Appropriate Authorities in the state have been repeatedly sensitized to various provisions of the PNDT Act and its enforcement.

·           Inter district inspections by the Civil Surgeons are undertaken to nab the violators of the PNDT Act.

·           Surprise Inspections are also carried out by the State Officers so as to cross check the enforcement of the Act in various parts of the State.

·           Enforcement of the PNDT Act in the districts is reviewed every month at the State level.

·           98 court cases/ FIRs have been launched in the state for violation of the PNDT Act. In addition action has been taken against 272 centers in the form of suspension/ cancellation of registration. Nine centers have been convicted,         Dr. Santokh Singh of Jalandhar has been awarded 3 years imprisonment and fine of Rs. 9,000/-, Mr. Jagdish Singh Aulakh and Dr. Harjit Singh Kang both of district Jalandhar have been awarded 2 years imprisonment and fine of Rs.5,000/- each, Sh. Malkeet Singh of Ferozepur has been awarded 2 years imprisonment and fine Rs. 3,000/-. Dr. Rita Garg of Mansa & Dr. Parmod Kumar Gupta of Faridkot have been awarded 3 months imprisonment and fine Rs.1000/- each, two centres (one each in district Mohali and Fatehgarh Sahib) have been fined Rs.1000 each, one centre at Amritsar has been convicted and released on probation and penalty of Rs.400/- as cost and registration of the Doctor of this centre has been suspended for 5 years by the State Medical Council. Dr. Parmod Kumar Gupta of Faridkot has been discharged by the higher Court in the appeal filed by Dr. Gupta.

AWARENESS GENERATION

·           Intensive awareness generation activities have been undertaken for bringing about behavior change in the community for enhancing the worth of the girl-child as also for sensitizing the ultrasonologists and the public to important provisions of the              PNDT Act.

·           Hoardings depicting important clauses of the PC & PNDT Act are displayed in the state at present.

·           Message on cause of the girl child and important provisions of the PNDT Act are displayed on 605 Bus side panels of Govt. owned Punjab Roadways and PRTC Buses at present.

·           Press Advertisements appealing to doctors, journalists, law enforcers and politicians have been inserted in leading newspapers of the region from time-to-time for soliciting the support of these influential groups for the cause of the girl-child.

·           40000 posters were printed and distributed.

·           Back bus panels were displayed for bringing awareness on punishments under the PNDT Act.

Song and drama shows have been staged in all the 141 blocks of the State. These stage shows highlight various socio-cultural issues influencing the mindset of the community.

·           Exclusive girl-child competitions have been organized for under two year girl-child in the State. The selected baby girls are awarded Kisan Vikas Patras worth Rs.500/- and 300/- as 1^st and 2^nd prize which on maturity are used for school education of these girls.

·           Istri Sehat Sabha members, NGOs and Anganwari Workers have been actively involved for promoting the cause of the girl-child.

AWARENESS GENERATION THROUGH MEDIA

Lot of social mobilization has been undertaken through the media. Newspapers, television, cable network, radio and folk media alongwith exhibitions and outdoor publicity have been used for spreading the message against female foeticide. Doordarshan and Cable TV has universal outreach in Punjab in view of this TV spots were telecast from Doordarshan Jalandhar and Chandigarh as well as 100 cable stations in the State in the recent past. Focused theme based newspapers advertisements on festivals/ days were also inserted for evoking social sentiment in favour of the girl-child. One such advertisement was published in leading newspapers of the region on the occasion of Navratras and Ashtami. Similarly, Radio spot from Primary and FM Channel at Jalandhar, Patiala, Bathinda and Chandigarh was utilized for creating awareness about the PC and PNDT Act.

COORDINATION WITH THE JUDICIARY

·         A Judicial colloquium was organized on 3^rd December, 2006 at Chandigarh by Human Rights Law Network in coordination with the Health department for sensitization of the Judicial Officers to the menace of female foeticide in this part of the country.

·         Punjab Legal Services Authority in collaboration with the Health department organized a big seminar at Patiala which was chaired by Hon’ble Chief Justice of India                 Sh. Y.K. Sabharwal and presided over by Hon’ble Chief Minister. Mr. Justice Ashok Bhan, a senior Judge of the Supreme Court of India, Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court Mr. Justice Vijender Jain, Many Judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court attended the seminar. Deputy Commissioners, Judicial Officers, Police Officers, elected representatives from the Zila Parishads, Municipal Corporations and other Officers/ representatives from many districts besides                Civil Surgeons, Senior Doctors and Ultrasonologists from across the state and local students also participated. Chief Justice of India exhorted the participants to spread awareness at the grass root level to stop female foeticide. Mr. Justice Ashok Bhan and Mr. Justice Vijender Jain spoke at length on causes of skewed sex-ratio in Punjab and stressed that social awareness and welfare schemes for the girl-child and women are essential for curbing sex-selected foeticide and PNDT Act alone cannot serve the purpose.

·         The Punjab Legal Services Authority is organizing many seminars at the District and Sub-Divisional level in the state for social mobilization so as to bring a change in the mindset of the society in favor of the girl child. Hon’ble Chief Justice of Punjab & Haryana High Court Mr. Justice Vijender Jain is personally addressing the seminars.

COORDINATION WITH THE CIVIL SOCIETY

·           The Panchayats have been involved in the campaign for the cause of the girl-child. Incentives in the form of cash prize of Rs.3 lac for Panchayats that achieve a child sex-ratio (0 to 6 years) of 1000 in a financial year and a prize of Rs.2.5 lac for Panchayats which achieve child sex-ratio of 951 to 1000 in a financial year were introduced. A total of 11 Panchayats have been awarded Rs.3 lac each during the financial year 2006-07 so as to involve the civil society in the campaign to improve sex-ratio in the state. This year, there is  provision of Rs. 100 lac for awarding Panchayats @ Rs. 1.5 lac each for outstanding Panchayats that achieve child sex-ratio of  more than 1000 and Rs. 1 lac each for outstanding Panchayats that achieve sex-ratio of 950 or above.

·           Jathedars of Takahat Shri Damdama Sahib and Anandpur Sahib have come forward in a big way in lending cooperation and support in improving sex-ratio in the state as their preaching and advocacy has a lot of impact on the mindset of the society.

Indian Medical Association (IMA) is extending full support to the Health Department in its fight against sex selective foeticide.

·           Plan India and Voluntary Health Association India organized workshops at Chandigarh for sensitization of the MLAs and Confederation of Indian Industry to the cause of the girl-child.

·           UNFPA is extending full support for improving sex-ratio in the State.

BALRI RAKSHAK YOJNA

The State Govt. has launched Balri Rakshak Yojna a state funded scheme, for promotion of cause of the girl-child. Incentive is paid for adopting terminal method of sterilization after the birth of only one or two girl children @Rs.500/- and Rs.700/- respectively. 162 beneficiaries have already been registered.