According to an estimate, around three lakh female foetuses were aborted in 2001. "These figures may soon become a million if we keep dilly-dallying the issue of who is the correct authority to implement the Act," cautions George.
States with high female foeticide rate are Haryana, Delhi, Punjab and Gujarat.
Haryana tops the list with 861 females per 1000 males, as per the 2001 Census. In 1991, the ratio was 865 females per 1000 males.
In Punjab, the ratio was 882 females per 1000 males in 1991. 2001 Census put the ratio at 874 females per 1000 males. When contacted, P P Doke, Director of Health Services, Maharashtra said that besides ignorance among the public about the ‘appropriate authority’ under the law prohibiting sex selection of the foetus, it is also difficult for a civil surgeon to slap a case against a fellow doctor.
According to Maharashtra Appropriate Authority, also in charge of the Family Welfare Bureau, D S Dakhure, there are a total of 7,026 sonography centres in the state and in the last five-six years, action has been taken against 92 doctors.
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