Haryana
Efforts to Curb Female Foeticide in Haryana
- 16 May 2025
- 3 min read
Why in News
A meeting was conducted by the Haryana government to intensify efforts to curb female foeticide and strengthen measures under the flagship 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao' campaign.
Key Points
- Formation of District-Level Committees:
- District-level standing committees have been constituted, headed by Deputy Commissioners (DCs) with Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) acting as member secretaries.
- These committees are responsible for tighter monitoring and better coordination aimed at improving the state’s sex ratio.
- Regular Monitoring and Inspections:
- Committees will hold weekly meetings to:
- Review reports on the sale of Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) kits.
- Inspect ultrasound centres to prevent illegal sex determination.
- Formulate strategies to curb female foeticide.
- Committees will hold weekly meetings to:
- Legal Actions and Disciplinary Measures:
- Doctors found involved in sex-selective abortions face stringent disciplinary action, including cancellation of medical licenses by the Haryana Medical Council.
- First Information Report (FIR) are actively being filed against offenders, and illegal centres are being sealed.
- All abortions beyond 12 weeks, especially when the couple already has daughters, will be thoroughly investigated by civil surgeons.
- Early Pregnancy Registration: The health department has been instructed to ensure Antenatal Care (ANC) registration of every pregnancy before 10 weeks for early tracking and support.
- Personalized Support through ‘Sahelis’: Pregnant women with one or more female children are assigned ASHA or Anganwadi workers as ‘sahelis’ (friends) for counseling and monitoring.
- Disciplinary action will be taken against any ASHA or Anganwadi worker found negligent or complicit in illegal abortions.
- Awareness and Community Engagement:
- District administrations will expand Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) campaigns.
- Religious and community leaders will be involved to promote gender equality and the value of girl children.
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Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao (BBBP) Scheme
- It was launched in January 2015 to combat sex-selective abortion and improve the declining child sex ratio (918 girls per 1,000 boys in 2011).
- The scheme is a joint initiative of the Ministries of Women and Child Development, Health and Family Welfare, and Human Resource Development.
- Implemented across 405 districts, its main objectives are to prevent gender-biased sex selection, ensure the survival and protection of girls, promote their education and participation, and safeguard their rights.
