Monitoring mechanism to check misuse of ultrasound for sex determination

Concerned over the skewed sex ratio, particularly child sex ratio, in the country, Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry has recommended setting up of State Inspection and Monitoring Committees to facilitate inspection of ultrasound machines especially in districts which have heavy concentration of ultrasound clinics or Imaging centres. States were also advised to work in coordination to regulate activities of ultra sound clinics in neighbouring border districts for proper registration of machines so that these are not used for sex determination. Closer coordination with advocacy activities of Department of Women and Child Development could also help improve the implementation of the Act and it was suggested that civil registration system should be strengthened to track sex ratio at birth so that real time data is available to State authorities. The issues related to identification and mapping of districts for skewed child sex ratio – interstate coordination mechanism for regulating activities of ultra sound clinics in border districts; status of enforcement of PC & PNDT Act at State/District/Sub-District level – constitution/notification and meetings of State Supervisory Board, dedicated PNDT cell at State/district level; sub-district level – registration and renewal of clinics, regulation of mobile/portable/ multi registration of machines, monitoring of form – F ; and follow up of court conviction cases and capacity building were also discussed at the meeting.