The weekly meeting of the State Task Force (STF) for Improving Sex Ratio in Haryana was held under the chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Sh. Sudhir Rajpal here today. The meeting focused on intensifying efforts to curb illegal abortions and further improve the state's sex ratio under the ‘Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao’ campaign.
During the meeting, the Additional Chief Secretary mandated intensified enforcement against illegal abortions, with a clear directive for officials to pursue strict punitive action, including cancellation of licence, for any doctors found complicit.
The Additional Chief Secretary emphasized targeting BAMS doctors and unqualified practitioners (quacks) involved in illegal abortions, especially in 4 districts of Karnal, Palwal, Gurugram and Charkhi Dadri. He discussed the issue with Deputy Commissioners of Palwal and Karnal via videoconferencing and ordered them to crack down on illegal abortion centres and stop the illegal sale of MTP kits.
He also ordered regular meetings of the District Task Force, assigning responsibility to Chief Medical Officers and senior health officials to improve the sex ratio of these districts. Additionally, SAHELIS (companion) attached with pregnant women across the state to counsel them will be held accountable for any abortions that occur.
Officials were directed to actively coordinate with police authorities to carry out raids at centres doing illegal abortions. The Additional Chief Secretary also asked for a show-cause notice to be issued to DSPs acting as Nodal Officers of these 4 districts for negligence in duty.
The meeting also highlighted the recent success of government initiatives: Haryana’s sex ratio improved to 943 in the week of June 3-9, 2025—a significant increase from previous weeks. In the past week, inspections were conducted across the state over the illegal sale of Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) kits in which 2 MTP kits were seized.
The number of wholesalers selling MTP kits has been reduced from 32 to 3 within one and a half months in Haryana and the sale trend of MTP kits has seen a significant decline in 14 districts of the state. Two FIRs were registered, one shop was sealed and two cases of overcharging of MTP kits were detected and FIRs under EC Act have been lodged.
Apart from this, a portable machine used to perform sex determination tests was seized during a raid in Kurukshetra and two persons were arrested, who were found to be Repeat Offenders. The officials were told to keep a track of Repeat Offenders in these cases and coordinate with police authorities to keep a track of their activities.
To prevent and detect illegal sex selection, officials were tasked with revalidating data for all IVF centres in their respective districts and closely monitoring their operations. The Additional Chief Secretary called for punitive measures against any IVF centres engaging in unlawful activities.
He also sought detailed reports from 124 SMOs of CHCs across the state on any illegal abortions taking place under their jurisdiction and ordered disciplinary action against SMO of Uttawar, Palwal for being negligent in his duty.Secretary, Health Department and Mission Director, National Health Mission, Sh. Rippudaman Singh Dhillon, and senior officers of various departments were present in the meeting.