Awareness Generation programme on PCPNDT Act
In India where female infanticide has existed for centuries, now female feticide has joined the fray and is increasing each day. The reasons for this evil are the introduction and proliferation of pre natal diagnostic test / sex determination clinics and cheaper ultrasound machines that help determine the sex of a child before it is born. Dramatic reduction of birth rates in most of India’s states which contributed toward intensification of son preference in the existing patriarchal society. And one must also not forget the lack of ethics in pockets of the medical profession that result in furthering female feticide.
A declining sex ratio has various socio-economic and health implications. A woman’s health suffers as she is forced to undergo multiple pregnancies and abortions. Decreasing number of females in the society can increase sex related crimes and violence against women. Imbalance is likely to cause a rise in social problems like dowry deaths, forced polyandry, rape, child marriages, bride-selling and kidnapping of women for marriage.
From 1982 the Health Activists groups and Women’s groups became active on the issue and the protest began resulting in forcing the Health Ministry to issue circular declaring the use of tests for sex determination and subsequent abortion of female fetus a penal offence. In mid eighties there was a big campaign in Mumbai under the banner of Forum against Sex Determination and Sex selective abortions. The other states like Punjab, Gujarat and Goa too were not far behind. The concerted effort resulted in formulation of Pre Natal Diagnostic Techniques [Regulation and Prevention of Misuse] Act which was passed in 1994 [PNDT].
PC&PNDT Act was passed in the year 1994 but nothing has been changed since then in positive direction what the Govt. of India thought about. Because laws alone cannot bring about abiding changes in an ancient social fabrics of a country like India where patriarchal control redefine and reassert themselves constantly cutting across the barriers of caste, community and religion by destroying the dream of a gender just society. It is now fairly evident that a degree of societal reorientation is needed in different sectors and at all levels of our country.
In India where female infanticide has existed for centuries, now female feticide has joined the fray and is increasing each day. The reasons for this evil are the introduction and proliferation of pre natal diagnostic test / sex determination clinics and cheaper ultrasound machines that help determine the sex of a child before it is born. Dramatic reduction of birth rates in most of India’s states which contributed toward intensification of son preference in the existing patriarchal society.
To deal with this problem that has root in social behavior and prejudice, mere legislation is not enough. Various activities as mentioned below have to be undertaken for attitude & behavioral change of common people as well as to create awareness against the practice of prenatal determination of sex and female feticide.
1) Municipal area specific Community Event on ‘Save the Girl children’.
2) Meetings with Municipal wards members.
3) Sensitization of students of the colleges
4) Visit to USG Clinics as per requirement.
As Government has realized the intensity & intricacy of the problem so, asked many NGOs like ours across the country to initiate above mentioned activities in collaboration with area specific govt. machineries for awareness generation among the masses with prime objectives to ‘Save the Girl Child’.
GUP has been conferred with responsibility of organizing such programme in 14 identified Municipalities of North 24 Parganas district in West Bengal. (List of identified municipalities is enclosed)
Details of activities undertaken are given in the following:-
a) Community Event on ‘Save the Girl children’:
To celebrate the National girl Child Day a street corner meeting was organised at Taki Ferry Ghat on 24th January,2016. Information about the impact of female infanticide through pre natal diagnostic / sex determination test and the need of proper implementation of PC&PNDT Act,1994 of govt. of India was disseminated among around 1000 passer-by and street dwellers. Resource persons from different walks of life including representatives from many NGOs and local Govt. departments participated in this programme to share their opinion on this issue among the people.
b) Meetings with Municipal wards members:
Altogether 260 number of meetings were organized in 13 municipalities out of 14 identified Municipalities namely- Basirhat, Baduria, Taki, Gobardanga, Halisahar, Kanchrapara, Panihati, Garulia, North Barrackpore, Ashoknagar, Habra, Gobardanga, New Barrackpore, Rajarhat Gopalpore in the district of North 24 Parganas for awareness generation among the people in the presence of respective Ward members, counsellors, health personnel on the need of implementation of PC&PNDT Act,1994 to stop female infanticide through pre natal diagnostic / sex determination test. We have been successful to reach out more than 24000 people and disseminated information on the issue cited before.
c) Sensitization of students of the colleges:
Altogether 10 number of sensitisation workshop on PC&PNDT Act, 1994 of Govt. of India were organised in ten identified colleges namely - Basirhat College at Basirhat, Naba Barackpur Prafulla Chandra Mahavidyalaya at New Barrackpore, Acharya Prafulla Chandra College at New Barrackpore, Derozio College at Rajarhat Gopalpur, Gopal Chandra Memorial College of Education at New Barrackpore, Panihati Mahavidyalaya at Panihat, Banipur Mahila Mahavidyalaya at Habra, Govt. College of Education, Banipur (B.T.College) at Habra, Kanchrapa College at Kanchrapara and Taki Govt. College at Taki for awareness generation among the college students and the teachers to stop female infanticide through pre natal diagnostic / sex determination test. Altogether 584 number of college students and their principals , faculties participated in these sensitisation workshops to enhance their knowledge and information base on the issue cited before. Programme wise list of participants and resource persons are enclosed herewith for your kind perusal.