Additional Chief Secretary, Health Department, Haryana, Sh. Sudhir Rajpal chaired the weekly meeting of the State Task Force constituted to improve the sex ratio here today.During the meeting, he directed AYUSH doctors to keep a strict watch on cases related to the illegal sale of MTP (Medical Termination of Pregnancy) kits.
Sh. Sudhir Rajpal said that the state has registered progress over the past year. The sex ratio, which stood at 901 on August 31 last year, has risen to 907 this year.He directed officers of the AYUSH doctors to remain vigilant in four nearby villages under their jurisdiction to ensure that no pregnant woman who has crossed 12 weeks of pregnancy undergoes an illegal abortion.
The Additional Chief Secretary further directed that a meeting be convened soon to seek explanations from the Chief Medical Officers of Ambala, Bhiwani, Charkhi Dadri, Karnal, Sirsa, and Palwal districts, where the desired improvement in the sex ratio has not been achieved over the past week.
Sh. Sudhir Rajpal further directed the officers to closely monitor wholesalers selling MTP kits and MTP centers. If inspections reveal that a female fetus has been aborted, the related ultrasound records must be scrutinised, and if any irregularity is detected, a complaint must be lodged with the police, he said.
Sh. Sudhir Rajpal was also informed that two ASHA workers have been dismissed for failing to perform their duties diligently. In one case from Sonipat, the husband of an ASHA worker was illegally selling MTP kits brought from Delhi in the Sonipat district. Upon receiving complaints, cases were registered against both, and the police arrested them.
Similarly, in Panchkula, a pregnant woman, already a mother of three daughters, died due to negligence, as the ASHA worker failed to monitor her condition properly. Consequently, the ASHA worker was also terminated from her job.
Sudhir Rajpal directed officers to keep a strict watch on people purchasing MTP kits.Director, Women and Child Development Department, Ms. Monica Malik, Dr. Kuldeep Singh and other Task Force members were present at the meeting.