Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, March 20: At least 51 private as well as government clinics have been raided, on a tip-off that they were conducting ultrasound tests to determine sex of foetuses which eventually led to steep rise in female foeticide.
Orissa has the dubious distinction of disproportionate sex ratio as per 2011 Census data which suggests the state has 979 females per 1,000 males. The scenario is worse in urban areas where the ratio is 932 against 1000 while it is 989 in rural areas.
Ironically, sex determination tests, which are illegal, are going on in blatant violation of norms especially in urban areas like Bhubaneswar. The family welfare department in collaboration with Khurda district administration has raided eight such illegal clinics, of which six were operating in the city.
‘‘The team, formed under the direct supervision of the district collector, conducted the raids,” said family welfare director Nirmala Dei.
Srusti Clinic was raided Thursday by a five-member team, comprising health department and district administration officials, which triggered a debate among experts who wondered how such clinics have thrived in the capital city.
According to the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act 1994 (PNDT Act), pre-natal diagnostic techniques for determining sex of foetuses is strictly prohibited for which the district authorities will be held responsible if they do not frequently inspect unauthorised clinics.
Nearly 767 clinics have been given licences to conduct ultrasound tests on condition that they would not indulge in sex determination of foetuses. Nearly 528 of them are operational. In past the authorities raided Maa Shakti Hospital, Life Express, Hi-tech Diagnostics, Sanjeevani clinic, Ultrasound centre and Srusti Clinic and sealed them.