Haryana forms task force to improve sex ratio

Haryana has established a new 12-member "State Task Force" aimed at improving the state's sex ratio. This team will focus on enforcing laws against gender determination and female foeticide under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC-PNDT) Act. The move comes as Haryana struggles with a low sex ratio at birth. The task force will meet weekly to coordinate efforts. It includes senior health officials and will be led by Dr. Virender Yadav from the National Health Mission. The government plans to conduct five raids per week in every district to target the illegal sale of Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) kits. Rewards will be offered for informants who help in these operations. To raise awareness, the state will appoint five women sarpanches, ideally mothers of only daughter(s), as ambassadors for the "Beti Bachao Beti Padhao" campaign. Starting on April 4, there will be awareness programs including mobile vans and film screenings to promote the value of girls. Additionally, a Reproductive Child Health (RCH) ID system will be implemented statewide to monitor pregnancies and discourage sex-selective abortions. Pregnant women who register will receive an incentive. The health department is emphasizing the need for all pregnancies to be registered and is setting up a helpline to support women with girl children. Officials believe that strict enforcement and community engagement are essential to changing attitudes about the girl child in Haryana.