BANGALORE: The State Government is seeking an amendment to the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971, Minister for Medical Education V.S. Acharya has said.

Mr. Acharya said the State Government is pushing for an amendment that will prevent scanning after the 12th week of pregnancy. At present, the Act allows termination of pregnancy up to the 20th week as long as two medical practitioners are of the opinion that the continuation of the pregnancy is harmful for the individual, who may be in danger because of the pregnancy, is a minor, has been abused or is mentally unsound.

The Minister said that scanning till the 20th week gives scope for medical practitioners and parents to determine the sex of the child. "The sex ratio is being skewed because of sex selection abortions," he said at a "Chinthana Manthana" programme on the issue organised here on Tuesday by the Family Planning Association of India, in which religious leaders and intellectuals participated.

He said Karnataka has a sex ratio of 964 females per 1,000 males and a child sex ratio that is even worse at 949 females per 1,000 males. This was reflected in the fact that the number of children in the 0-6 age group came down from 74 lakhs in 1991 to 68 lakhs children in 2001, he added.

Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji said a change in attitude on the role of women in the family is essential. Since women do as much work as men do, maybe even more, they need to be viewed as equal partners. "Once our community begins to view men and women as equals, the sex imbalance will reduce," he said.

Balagangadharanatha Swamiji said the message of gender equality has to be taken to rural areas.

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