Under the directions of Health Minister Aarti Singh Rao, the weekly meeting of the State Task Force constituted to improve sex ratio in Haryana was chaired by Additional Chief Secretary, Health, Sudhir Rajpal here today.
The Additional Chief Secretary directed officers to keep a close watch on all MTP (Medical Termination of Pregnancy) and Ultrasound centres of the state so that no illegal sex determination and abortion takes place.
He also directed the Women and Child Development Department to issue show cause notices against those 393 Anganwadi workers (appointed as SAHELIS) in whose area pregnant women (who are already having daughters) got illegal abortions done.
While reviewing the cases of illegal sex determination and abortion in the meeting, he said there should be 100% registration of children born in government hospitals. He stressed on immediate registration of children born in Mewat, Gurugram, Palwal and Faridabad districts and also advised to take the help of NGOs in this work.
He instructed the officials of the Health Department to hold a meeting with the transgender community and explain to them that abortion of a girl child in the womb harms the social balance. When people of the transgender community go to congratulate on the birth of a boy, they should inquire whether this child was born after two or three girls, and if such information is received then it should be brought to the notice of the Health Department.
All Deputy CMOs have been instructed to ensure registration by organizing camps in the slum areas of their respective areas. In case of complaints of illegal sex determination and abortion, inter-district teams should be formed and inspected.
Expressing satisfaction over the increasing sex ratio of girls, he directed to keep an eye on MTP and IVF centres in future so that this ratio can be equalized. The officials of Women and Child Development Department were directed to make people aware of the ‘Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao’ campaign and make documentaries etc. in this regard and broadcast them as much as possible through social media and traditional media.
He advised to connect representatives of Panchayati Raj institutions, ASHA workers and various NGOs with this campaign.All officers were directed to play their active role in increasing the sex ratio of girls in the state.