Joint meet on Gender Discrimination and Role of PC-PNDT Programme to Improve Sex Ratio held

A joint meeting of State Advisory Committee (SAC), State Appropriate Authority (SAA), and State PC-PNDT Cell, Manipur was held at the Office Chamber of Director of Family Welfare Services, Manipur. The joint meet was held under the chairmanship of Dr. N. Hemantakumar Singh, Director, Family Welfare Services. The Family Welfare Department, Manipur is responsible for implementing and monitoring the PC-PNDT Act (The Preconception and Prenatal Diagnostics Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Determination).
Speaking during the meeting, Dr. N. Hemantakumar Singh said ultrasound machines are valuable tools in modern medicine. Therefore, it is essential to allocate adequate ultrasound machines with manpower as it provides real-time, non-invasive imaging for various procedures, including monitoring foetal development, guiding biopsies, and assessing organ function. Sex-selective abortions, is often driven by cultural or societal preferences for one gender over the other, it is important that the ultrasound machine operator possess exemplary ethical integrity, he added.
At the meeting, Dr. Sujata Huidrom, State Nodal Officer, PC &PNDT gave a detailed report on various activities taken up at State level and district including awareness programme, workshop was presented. Monitoring visits of ultrasound clinics by the SIMC (State Implementing Monitoring Committee), and DIMC (District Implementing Monitoring Committee) was also tabled. Inspections were conducted at ultrasound clinics/ Genetic Clinic/ Imaging Centre at Imphal West, Imphal East, Bishnupur, Chandel, Senapati, and Churachandpur to ensure that all clinics are registered and operating within the guidelines of the Act. She also thanked the members of the various District Implementing Monitoring Committee for their cooperation and coordination.
Tenshubam Sangeeta, MCS, Joint Director (IPR) and Member, SAC, said District Information Offices of the department have been disseminating information to the media including social media by issuing press releases on the various activities and programmes of the Government pertaining to PC &PNDT Act/Rules and Gender Discrimination taken up in districts.
The Preconception and Prenatal Diagnostics Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Determination) Act, is an act to safeguard the girl child by penalizing those indulging in sex determination and to serve as a deterrent to others