Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao outlines strict enforcement, surveillance, awareness drives and rewards to curb female foeticide, responding in detail during the Belagavi winter session of the Legislature.
The Karnataka Health Department has intensified its efforts to completely curb the social evil of female foeticide, Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao informed the Legislative Council during the ongoing Belagavi winter session. Responding to a starred question raised by Council member C.T. Ravi, the minister detailed a multi-pronged strategy aimed at prevention, enforcement and public participation.
The minister said the government has adopted a zero-tolerance approach and urged women across the state to remain alert, courageous and confident, assuring them of full government support. He appealed to families to take a firm stand against female foeticide and encouraged them to contact authorities without fear under any circumstances.
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As part of strict enforcement, separate nodal officers have been appointed in every district to monitor and prevent foeticide-related activities. Intelligence-led raids are being conducted to keep close watch on hospitals and scanning centres that report unusually high male birth ratios. The government, he said, is firmly committed to the effective implementation of the PC & PNDT Act to dismantle illegal foeticide networks at the root.
To strengthen awareness, a large-scale statewide campaign for 2024-25 is underway. The campaign includes branding on buses and trains, display of hoardings, radio jingles and television spots to spread awareness on the dangers and illegality of female foeticide. In addition, workshops are being organised from the state level to the district level to educate officials about the PC & PNDT Act and ensure strict compliance with its provisions.
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The minister also highlighted an incentive mechanism, stating that individuals who provide credible information on foeticide will be rewarded with ₹1 lakh. He assured that the identity of informers will be kept strictly confidential, and added that wide publicity is being given to this provision.
Emphasising the need for collective responsibility, Dinesh Gundu Rao said public cooperation is essential to end the practice. He reiterated that men and women are equal, and that every female life is at risk from the foetal stage itself, making its protection a shared responsibility of society.