 |
|
||
 |
|||
| Improve Your World | Home | About Us | Sitemap | Search | Contact Us | ||
|
|
||||||||
| Also See : Disaster
Management , Flooding
, Personal Problems This section is a one stop resource point for all emergency numbers as well as other useful numbers for all individuals and groups |
| Home >> Help Lines >> Articles |   Email this Page |
|
|||
|
24x7 helpline against foeticide ....Kounteya Sinha | TNN
New Delhi: A longer jail sentence along with a higher financial penalty, and a 24-hour toll free number to record complaints against doctors conducting sex determination tests are among a slew of measures being planned by the health ministry to tackle female foeticide in India.
Other measures include having designated courts to hear cases against violators of Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PNDT) Act, appointing special public prosecutors to file cases against the guilty and sensitizing the judiciary to ensure better conviction rates.
MTNL has granted the health ministry a 10-digit toll free number 1800110500 which will be managed by a call centre. Once a complaint is received, the call centre will forward it to the state concerned. The ministry is planning to amend the PC and PNDT Acts and introduce a graded punishment system according to which individuals found conducting sex determination tests will face a jail term of three months to three years. The financial penalty, which is at present between Rs 10,000 to Rs 1 lakh, is being enhanced to anywhere between Rs 3-7 lakh. The ministry is also planning to bring in a mandatory clause which will only allow gynaecologists, obstetricians and radiologists with a DNB degree to use ultrasound machines.
Concerned about India’s dismal rate of convictions—only 15 in 450 cases—the ministry wants designated courts set up to hear cases relating to the violation of PNDT rules.
Workshops to sensitize the judiciary are also being held. Help will be sought from special public prosecutors whose sole responsibility will be to file cases and carry out probe against the guilty.
Health minister A Ramadoss has asked states to appoint a successful girl child as a brand ambassador against female foeticide and religious heads to advocate the boon of a girl child in their discourses. Meanwhile, a website launched by the ministry on Monday makes it mandatory for all ultrasound clinics to fill up their Form
F online. The form has 19 questions, including the reason for conducting the sonography.
Meanwhile, MP has announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for any person giving information about foeticide. GOVT TIGHTENS NOOSE 1800110500 (24-hour toll-free number) can be called up to register complaints
Graded punishment for guilty with jail term from 3 mnths to 3 yrs and penalty of Rs 3-7 lakh Designated courts to hear cases on PNDT Act violation Workshops to sensitise judiciary to ensure higher rate of conviction Website launched making it mandatory for clinics to fill Form F comprising ultrasound details online |
