The Kerala government on Thursday reiterated that the Pre Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PNDT) Act will be strictly enforced in the state in the wake of increasing cases of female feticide.
"The once favourable child sex ratio in Kerala is no longer there which is a bit of concern," said PK Sreemathy, Kerala's first lady health minister.
"I was a member of the State Advisory Committee to see the implementation of the PNDT Act. But in the past three years the then health minister called just one meeting. Now I want to ensure that the committee does its job," Sreemathy told reporters here in her first news conference after becoming the health minister.
The child sex ratio according to the state planning board has fallen below 1,000.
She said strict action would be taken against scanning centres that violate the rule.
"So far to my knowledge there have been no complaints from any quarter, but the fact that the number of girl children has fallen, any violation will be strictly proceeded against."
She said one state-run health centres in all the 140 assembly constituencies would be converted into model health centres.
{{/usCountry}}She said one state-run health centres in all the 140 assembly constituencies would be converted into model health centres.
{{/usCountry}}"This will be done with the help of the local legislator and the village council. It will be a real model health centre in all aspects," she said.
"The first visible signs of a change in the public health care system in the state would be seen in six months' time," she promised.