A longer jail sentence, a higher financial penalty and a 24-hour toll-free number to record complaints against doctors conducting sex determination tests. These are among the slew of measures being planned by the health ministry to tackle female foeticide.
Other steps include designated courts to hear cases against violators of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, appointing special public prosecutors to file cases against the guilty, and sensitizing the judiciary to ensure faster conviction rates.
MTNL has granted the health ministry a toll-free number -- 1800110500 -- that will be managed by a call centre. Once a complaint is received, the call centre will forward the information to the state concerned, which will conduct raids assisted by the National Monitoring Cell, conduct probes and prepare the case against culprits.
The ministry is planning a graded punishment system that will involve a jail term of three months to three years for the guilty. The financial penalty of Rs 10,000-1 lakh now is to be enhanced to Rs 3-7 lakh. A ministry website launched on Monday makes it mandatory for all ultrasound clinics to fill up their Form online.
Source: Times News Network April-29
