Scrutiny of scan centres sought in Tamil Nadu

Non-submission of the reports on medical termination of pregnancy was a sign of misuse of technology, activists alleged.

November 13, 2014 12:43 pm | Updated 12:43 pm IST - CHENNAI:

Activists working to improve sex ratio in the State have planned a series of agitation to seek monitoring of scan centres in the State.

According to them, of the 2,500 complaints they had filed against the centres, only 77 cases had come up before court but punishment for violation of rules under the Pre Conception and Pre Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act was rare.

A group of activists who recently visited centres in the city said none of them maintained the revised edition of Form F, issued in January. It seeks detailed information about procedures done on patients at the centre. The form should then be sent to the Directorate of Medical Services (DMS).

“Even the Government Kilapuk Medical Hospital does not have the form. Women are asked to sign on white sheets,” M. Jeeva, State convener of Campaign Against Sex Selective Abortion, told reporters.

The activists said very few centres displayed the current status regarding the registration of their centre. Non-submission of the reports on medical termination of pregnancy was a sign of misuse of technology, activists alleged.

The activists, belonging to four different non-governmental organisations from across the State, said despite more than 99 per cent of the births being registered in the State and easy access to advanced technology such as ultrasounds and scans, the sex ratio was in favour of boys.

The protests would begin on November 29.

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