Maha govt sets up task force to crack down on illegal sex determination, female foeticide
Mumbai, Sep 8 (IANS) The Maharashtra government on Tuesday constituted a high-level State Task Force to strengthen enforcement of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act and the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, aiming to curb illegal sex determination, prevent female foeticide, and improve the state’s child sex ratio.
The Government Resolution issued by the Public Health Department follows a formal proposal submitted by the Additional Director of the State Family Welfare Office, Pune, on August 20.
According to the statement, the state government has noted recent widespread violations of the PCPNDT and MTP Acts across various districts. To prevent female foeticide, stop illegal terminations, and balance the sex ratio at birth, the government identified an urgent need for multi-departmental coordination to conduct inspections and maintain active surveillance over sonography centres and MTP facilities.
The newly announced State Task Force features prominent women legislators and will be headed by former Legislative Council Deputy Chairperson Dr Neelam Gorhe. Its members will include Dr Pragya Satav, Member of Legislative Council (MLC), Bhavana Gawali (MLC), Chitra Wagh (MLC), Uma Khapre(MLC), Dr Manisha Kayande (MLC), Sneha Dubey Pandit, Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA – Vasai) and Shweta Mahale (MLA – Chikhli).
The Additional Director, State Family Welfare Office, Pune, will be the Member Secretary.
The Task Force has been granted extensive powers and directives. It will conduct direct visits to districts and municipal corporations to review the performance of Appropriate Authorities (District Civil Surgeons for districts and Municipal Medical Health Officers for civic bodies) and recommend corrective measures.
The task force will carry out unannounced inspections of sonography centres, diagnostic labs, and MTP facilities alongside local administrative officers to ensure complete legal compliance, direct local Appropriate Authorities to initiate swift criminal or legal action against any medical facility found violating the PCPNDT or MTP Acts during inspections, submit proposals to the government to resolve administrative bottlenecks and legal loopholes in enforcing both Acts across all regions, and suggest social measures to build positive public awareness against female foeticide and highlight the value of the girl child.
Further, the task force will hold district and municipal-level review meetings with local officers to streamline joint enforcement efforts.
According to the statement, District Collectors, Municipal Commissioners, and Civil Surgeons are required to extend full administrative, technical, and documentary support during visits by the task force. Expenses for transport, fuel, lodging, meals, and meetings during field visits will be funded using the 50 per cent share of registration/renewal fees collected from sonography centers, adhering strictly to state financial rules and provisions from GR dated February 20, 2025.
The task force is mandated to submit a detailed observation and recommendation report to the Public Health Department every three months for necessary administrative action. The tenure of the Task Force is fixed for a period of three years.
The state government’s move is to step up its drive against illegal sex determination and curb female foeticide. State health authorities run specialised inspection drives across thousands of registered sonography and MTP centers. Offending clinics face machine sealing, suspension of medical licenses, and criminal charges.
The state maintains dedicated toll-free helplines and online portals (such as Aamchi Mulgi) for citizens to report illegal sex determination and clandestine abortion clinics. In response to recurring underground rackets run by medical professionals and illegal syndicates, state officials have moved to invoke strict measures, such as the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), to prevent repeat offenses and enforce stiffer penalties.
–IANS
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