Delhi govt not doing enough to curb female foeticide, says NGO

Accusing the Delhi government of not being serious in addressing the issue of female foeticide in the National Capital, an NGO on Friday claimed there has been a “lack of seriousness” of the government on the issue.

According to the report issued by the Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR), even after 38 cases of foeticide were registered in Delhi between 2005 to 2014, there was only one conviction under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC&PNDT) Act from 2009 to September 2014.

“There is a huge gap between an actual number of offences committed under the PC&PNDT Act, the number of cases registered and extremely low rate of convictions. Instead of launching the Mukhbir Scheme or surprise investigation, the Delhi Government issued ludicrous show cause notices to 89 hospitals and nursing homes whose SRB ranged from 285:1000 (Female: Male) to 788:1000 during 2014-2015. Will any institution self-incriminate in their responses?” asked Paritosh Chakma, Director of the Asian Centre for Human Rights.

The NGO further claimed that the state government failed to launch the Mukhbir scheme, announced in October last year that rewards those who expose people involved in sex selection.

It further claimed that the Ladli Scheme, the main programme of the Delhi …read more