Killer clinics flourish as govt plays ostrich

The 17-point fall in the child sex ratio in UP narrates the story of state government's apathy to the menace of female foeticide. The degree of disinterest can be gauged from the fact that the state government has totally ignored the findings of a survey commissioned by its own health department in 2009.

The survey to assess the implementation of Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Technique (prohibition of sex determination) (PCPNDT) Act in UP had revealed that the child sex ratio has registered a sharp decline with the rapid increase in ultrasound centres and diagnostic centres in UP. But failure to take remedial measures led to `killing' of millions of daughters before birth. As a result, the child sex ratio which was 916 in the state in 2001, has come down to 899 in 2011 census released on Thursday.

The study conducted by an NGO for the state health department had revealed that that out of 3,647 ultrasound clinics in the state then, 172 were of government and 2,945 belonged to the private sector. Around 356 centres were found to be run by a non-medico. Records of 346 clinics are not available. Only 869 were found to be run by qualified radiologists and 382 by trained MBBS doctors. Most clinics owned by the non-medicos were found to be located in the smaller districts. At many places a doctor was registered at more than one centre and The PCPNDT Act was found to be dysfunctional in 41 districts.

Ayurvedic and homeopathic doctors got certificates to open ultrasound centres in Gautambudh Nagar, Jaunpur, Mau, Meerut, Pratapgarh, Unnao, Deoria, Ballia. In-vitro fertilisation centres found in Allahabad, Kanpur, Moradabad, Meerut and Noida were working without proper registration or were registered as ultrasound clinics.

The child-sex ratio started declining in west UP with development and introduction of technology from 1995 onwards. The same phenomenon was witnessed from 2005 onwards in the east UP. This showed that the development proved to be fatal for UP's daughters.

Significantly, following a campaign by TOI, raids were conducted at many centres in over two dozen districts in 2010.India TV is a 24 hours Hindi news channel. YuppTV provides India TV live any where in the world. Just login for free and watch India TV live any where with original quality. IP Camera one of the most famous news channels in India. IndiaTV in a short period of its existence However, most got away using political clout."Jaunpur, Kanpur, Ambedkarnagar, Basti, Jhansi,The benefits of having the Elite Edition 2008 Karaoke machine is that it is 100% legal, it is extremely easy to use; you may use it anywhere you go, all over the worldThe anime merchandise USA edition looks very simple. These pair of sneaker features a white leather on the upper part with some red accents on the piping and outsole Banda and Hamirpur among others are emerging as new `mandis' of female feoticide. Illegal centres are cashing on the patriarchal mindset of the people," said Dr Neelam Singh, member, PCPNDT monitoring committee, government of India. "A district-wise detail of child sex ratio to be released soon will us identify the `killing fields'," she added.