SW Director questions effectiveness of PCPNDT Act, 1994
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 28 2022: Social Welfare Director Ngangom Uttam Singh has questioned the effectiveness of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act (PC & PNDT) 1994, as no one in the State has been punished for determining the sex of an unborn fetus.

The statement was made at a state level awareness workshop conducted on the topic of PC & PNDT held at Ima Hall, Lamphelpat today.

The awareness workshop was jointly organised by Family Welfare Service and State Health Society, Manipur.

Speaking further, Ng Uttam asserted the need for moral and ethical transformation aside from imparting awareness and information on the topic of PC & PNDT.

SW Director questions effectiveness of PCPNDT Act, 1994

The Social Welfare Director further shared that he had never come across a case of any individual being punished under this Act for determining the sex of their unborn child or a case where expecting parents have been tried for determining the gender of the unborn child.

As such, he called into question the effectiveness of the PC & PNDT Act.

He also raised doubts on whether this is a case of doctors failing to lodge complaints or a failure in the implementation process of the Act.

Uttam further decried the culture of parents preferring a male child over a girl child for a variety of superficial reasons and added that in order to change this type of mentality there is a need for women to contribute more in taking care of their parents even after marriage.

Ng Uttam Singh urged the participants of the workshop, specially Anganwadi workers, ASHA workers etc to spread the information imparted in the course of this workshop.

The workshop was attended by Dr Dihe Mao, Addl Director, Family Welfare Service Manipur and Dr Kimngaihching, Joint Director, Chairman (SAA), PC & PNDT, Family Welfare Service Manipur as president and guest of honour respectively while O Sumatibala, activist, Dhanabir Laishram, social scientist and Dr Th Arunkumar, Joint Director Family Welfare Service were present as resource persons.