Union Minister Maneka Gandhi today said stress should be laid on both strict implementation and monitoring of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act as well as media efforts towards changing the mindset of the people.
Gandhi encouraged the District Collectors (DCs) to develop a mechanism through informers and community watch groups to keep a vigil on ultrasonography centres or persons indulging in unfair or illegal practices.
She also told DCs to ensure that 'gudda-guddi' boards are displayed in every panchayat office providing the details of number of boys and girls born in a month.
As part of state-wise consultation process on 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' Scheme, Union Minister of Women and Child Development Gandhi today held a video-conference meeting with the Principal Secretaries of Departments of WCD from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha and West Bengal, along with district collectors of identified districts under the scheme.
The collectors of Bijapur district from Karnataka, Thrissur district from Kerala, Morena, Gwalior, Bhind and Datia districts from Madhya Pradesh, Nayagarh from Odisha took part in the meeting.
Gandhi highlighted the gravity of the problem of low child sex ratio (CSR) and requested the District Collectors for taking urgent action as per the guidelines and submit District Action Plan through the respective state governments.
The minister drew the attention of the DCs to the importance of the 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' Scheme which will be launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 22 in Panipat, Haryana.
The minister laid thrust on the key actionable points mainly focusing on ensuring early registration of pregnancies, institutional deliveries, registration of birth, training and sensitisation of front line workers - ASHAs, AWWs and ANMs, incentivising and recognising individuals, villages, gram panchayats supporting the cause of the scheme.
