Monday 12th May, 2025
DC directs for launching mass campaign against female feoticide
RAJOURI, SEPTEMBER 14: Dep[uty Commissioner Dr. Shahid Iqbal Choudhary today chaired a meeting of District Task Force for Beti Bachao Beti Padao (BBBP) and finalized a multi-sectoral and multi-dimensional action plan for successful implementation of this joint initiative of Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Ministry of Human Resource Development.
Dr. Shahid directed the concerned departments to put in coordinated and convergent efforts to ensure survival, protection and empowerment of the girl child. He said the gender based pre-birth elimination of female through various methods is the main cause of decreasing child sex ratio which should be curbed by strict implementation of Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act (PC & PNDT Act) by the law enforcing authorities.
The meeting decided that the CMO, BMOs and Medical Superintendent of District Hospital will ensure proper surveillance on various registered diagnostic labs operational in the district for putting a blanket ban on the evil practice of prenatal sex determination and female feticide besides maintaining a proper track of the pregnant ladies by ASHA and anganwari workers. “Health authorities of district and sub-divisional administration should immediately report any suspicious case of female feticide to police so that proper inquiry could be conducted in the matter,” he directed.
The meeting laid emphasis on initiating a massive awareness and sensitization campaign in the district through paintings, flexes, hoardings and mobile exhibition vans especially in rural pockets where sex ratio is very low as compared to national average.
It was resolved that religious leaders, civil society members, NGOs and parents would be kept in loophole during awareness campaign. It was decided by the DTF that District Social Welfare Officer shall remain the Nodal Officer for the awareness campaign.
To ensure the empowerment and protection of female students, it was decided that self defense training in form of Judo, Karate and martial art would be imparted in all schools and the funds required would be provided in convergence by Education and Social Welfare Department. The DTF also adopted the United Martial Art Club Rajouri under BBBP.
Earlier DSWO Dr. Abdul Khabir gave a detailed presentation about the objectives of BBBP and multi-pronged strategies for result oriented implementation of the scheme. He apprised that as per 2011 census sex ratio and child sex ratio in the district was 860 and 865 respectively, below the national average of 940 females per 1000 male and shows a declining trend when compared to 2001 census.
Among others present in the meeting were ACR Abdul Qayoom Mir, CPO Abdul Hamid, SSP Yougal Manhas SDMs, CDPO Rajouri and MS District Hospital.