Mysore/Mysuru: About 4.5 lakh cases of female foeticide cases have been reported in the country since 2001, said Dr. Vivek Dorai, Deputy Director, Health & Family Welfare Services, Bengaluru, here this morning.

Speaking at a one-day workshop on ‘Karnataka Private Medical Establishment Act and Pre-conception & Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act [KPMEA and PC & PNDT Act]’ organised by District KPMEA, PC and PNDT Division, Office of the District Health & Family Welfare Office, Mysuru, at a private hotel in city, he said according to the data released by the Central Govt., a total of 45,000 cases of female foeticide cases are being reported every year in country and expressed his fear of being faced with gender imbalance with the reducing female population in the society.

Stating that with the fall in female population finding brides was becoming difficult, Dr. Vivek said that PC and PNDT Act, which was first introduced in Maharashtra in 1998, had been introduced throughout the country in 194 after certain modification to stop the menace of female foeticide. He also urged the DHOs and other concerned officials to ensure that the Act was strictly implemented in their respective areas.

Citing the example of recently reported female foeticide cases in Mandya, Dr. Vivek said that the authorities till date had not identified the scanning machine used for sex determination of foetus. “DHOs and Health Officers must ensure that the scanning machines used in diagnostic units are registered,” he said and added that scanning centres were using unique methods to inform the family members about the sex of the foetus. While jasmine flower is handed over to inform about the male foetus, the centre are giving pink rose to determine the female foetus, he said.

DHOs and Health Officers from various districts under the Mysuru Revenue Division took part in the workshop.