The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Officials crack the whip on genetic centres

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Friday, Feb 04, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Officials crack the whip on genetic centres

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, FEB. 3. In an unprecedented move, the district administration has launched a drive against genetic centres violating the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PNDT) Act. This is after concluding that the drastic fall in the girl child sex ratio in Hyderabad is linked to illegal determination of sex of foetus.

According to the district Collector, Arvind Kumar, show cause notices were issued to 361 centres, while registration of 91 were cancelled. Forty-four ultra-sound scanning machines were seized from different genetic counselling centres, laboratories and clinics. Criminal cases were booked and prosecution would be initiated against two companies, which supplied these machines to unregistered centres, he said.

Norms flouted

The District Medical and Health Officer, B. Satyavathi, said there were 389 genetic centres in the twin cities that were registered. However, not all of these were following the statutory process of filing monthly reports, and even among those who filed, the information furnished was incomplete.

Mr. Kumar, addressing a meeting organised by the State Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes' Association on Thursday, said there was no question of becoming lenient towards violators. "On the contrary, the drive will be intensified," he said.

Alarming sex ratio

A comparative study of census reports of 1991 and 2001 had revealed that Hyderabad's sex ratio in the age group 0 to 6 had dropped from 963 to 942 females per 1,000 males. The State capital had the least sex ratio in this age group, with Ranigunj recording the lowest among wards with a shockingly low 838. Even in the general sex ratio, Hyderabad had the lowest among 23 districts at 933.

The low sex ratio has no other explanation but sex selective female foeticide, abortions and neglect of the girl child, resulting in mortality at young age, Mr. Kumar said.

"This Act is one of the most powerful ones, and we will make sure that it is implemented properly. The onus of maintaining proper records and avoiding legal action is on you," Mr. Kumar told the hospitals and nursing homes.

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