Chandigarh:
To check the illegal sex determination tests being conducted in privately-run ultrasound centres in Punjab, the state government has decided to take help from private detective agencies.
The decision was taken by Health Minister Surjit Jayani at a meeting of the State Supervisory Board where major decisions were taken to get the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act or PNDT Act implemented effectively in Punjab.
Addressing the meeting, the Minister said that all the Civil Surgeons have also been directed to keep an eagle's eye on the activities of all the ultrasound centres being privately run in the state and have been asked to take immediate action against any violation of the PNDT Act.
He also said that the state government had been tough with dishonest owners of these centres, as a result of which the male female sex ratio in the state has improved considerably.
The male -female sex ratio in 2011 was 846, while in 2001 it was 798.
The government also hiked the cash award to Rs 1 lakh from Rs 20000 to any person giving information about any ultrasound centres indulging in illegal sex detection in Punjab.