Maharashtra Health and Family Welfare Minister Prakash Abitkar has urged authorities to ensure strict enforcement of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act to improve the state’s sex ratio and curb female foeticide. He also directed that district-level supervisory committees be set up within the next month and regular workshops be conducted to monitor that the Act is implemented effectively.

Chairing a state-level supervisory board meeting on the effective enforcement of the PCPNDT Act on Tuesday, Abitkar reviewed the actions taken by the health department in this regard. Senior officials from the department and representatives of non-governmental organisations attended the meeting. The meeting also included a district-wise review of the sex ratio at birth, based on reports from the civil registration system.