Chennai, 13 April (IANS). The Tamil Nadu Health Department has initiated strict action on illegal fetal gender investigation centers across the state. In recent times, the incidence of abortion by identifying the fetus is increasing, causing an imbalance in the ratio of boy and girl.
To deal with this, the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medical Medical has recently sent a letter to all District Health Officers (DHOs). In this letter, he has been ordered to go to at least three scan centers suddenly every month. Its purpose is to further implement the PCPNDT law that prohibit penis tests before pregnancy and during pregnancy.
The order was issued in the first week of April. It also states that the District Health Officer, along with the Joint Director Health Services (JDHS) should visit all the scan centers in your health unit districts (HUD) and send a detailed inspection report to the Directorate by 6th of every month.
Public Health Director Dr. T.S. Selvavinayam said, “In the last few days, there have been incidents of abortion by identifying female fetus from many areas of the state. So it is necessary that DHO should suddenly check three scan centers every month.”
However, officials working at the ground level say that such action can be effective only when the DHO is given full rights. According to the current rules, the DHO is not officially included in the district or sub-district level advisory committees, which affects their work.
This new circular came after that major action, which was done on 26 February 2025. On that day, the Health Department and the police jointly busted an illegal gender investigation gang running in Salem and Krishnagiri districts.
Six people involved in this gang were arrested, including a government doctor and a nurse. This action is Krishnagiri District Magistrate S.K. Dinesh Kumar was done on the basis of secret information. A special team was formed for this. When it was proved by the team that the gender examination was being done there, the authorities arrested the doctors, nurses and four others. The ultrasound machine used in the penis test of the fetus was also seized from the spot.
Investigation revealed that the doctors used to take Rs 15,000 for a process. All those six people have been sent to jail. Although the 1994 PCPNDT law has very strict rules, it remains difficult to implement it. Breaking the rules can lead to a fine ranging from Rs 10,000 to 50,000 and jailed ranging up to five years.
Experts say that such continuous illegal acts show deep social thinking that likes sons more, which is decreasing the number of girls and is having bad effects on society for a long time.
-IANS
AS/