Joint meeting assesses role of PC-PNDT Programme
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, September 03 2025: A joint meeting of the State Advisory Committee (SAC), State Appropriate Authority (SAA), and State PC-PNDT Cell, Manipur, was convened at the Directorate ofFamily Welfare Services, Manipur, to assess the role of the Preconception and Prenatal Diagnostics Techniques (PC-PNDT) programme in improving the sex ratio and address gender discrimination in the State.

Chairing the meeting, Dr N Hemantakumar Singh, Director of Family Welfare Services, Manipur, emphasized the need for regular monitoring of violations pertaining to PC & PNDT Act.

The Act regulates the use of techniques for detecting genetic abnormalities while strictly banning their use for determining a fetus's sex.

It mandates registration and licensing for facilities and imposes penalties for violations, ensuring the technology is used only for its intended medical purpose.

Dr Sujata Huidrom, State Nodal Officer, PC & PNDT, presented an overview of activities conducted across districts in the past three months.

These included districtlevel meetings, awareness workshops on PC & PNDT Act/Rules and gender discrimination, sensitization programmes, and state-level training for public prosecutors.

Notably, the PC & PNDT Act aims to protect the girl child by penalizing those engaging in sex determination and acting as a deterrent against such practices.

Pre-natal diagnostic techniques are permitted for use only under specific conditions and in registered institutions to diagnose genetic diseases.

Clinical establishments like hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic centres using ultrasonography must be registered and obtain a PC-PNDT license to operate.

Members of State Advisory Committee including Dr Somorjit Ningombam, Additional Director, FWS; Dr Irengbam Soniya, JD/Chair-man SSA, PC-PNDT; Dr S Ingocha Singh, JD, FWS; Tenshubam Sangeeta, JD, IPR; Dr T Noren Singh, Consultant, Gynaecologist; Sanajaoba Yelemcha, Legal Expert and others took part in the meeting.

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