Mandya: Deputy Commissioner Dr. Kumara has instructed the officers to check the recurrence of female foeticide cases, by keeping a tab on scanning centres and medical stores, along with conducting frequent inspections.

He was chairing a meeting of District-level Pre-Conception & Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC&PNDT) (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act – District Advisory Committee and District Monitoring Committee, at his office here on Monday.

The DC said, the raids related to female foeticide conducted so far have revealed that, the scanning centres are equipped with additional equipment. Such equipment has been seized and the cases have been booked against the owners of scanning centres. If any cases of female foeticide  and sex determination come to light, action must be taken under the PC&PNDT Act, towards building a better society, said Dr. Kumara.

There are complaints of illegal abortions being conducted by buying drugs at the pharmacy stores without any doctor’s prescription. Hence, the officers must keep a vigil on all the pharmacy stores and conduct inspection. Awareness should be created among the pharmacists by conducting workshops, the DC suggested.

He also directed the officials to conduct surprise raids on scanning centres and initiate stringent action within the ambit of law, if anything was found fishy. Awareness programmes should be conducted at each Gram Sabha.

He informed that a special seminar on ‘Female Foeticide’ has been organised at the 87th All India Kannada Sahitya Sammelana scheduled to be held from Dec. 20 to 22 in the town.

DHO Dr. Mohan, District Disabled Welfare Officer Komal Kumar, Dr. Jyothi, Dr. Manohar, Dr. Marigowda, leaders Jayalakshmi, Janardhan and Dr. Devika were present.