Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad, Noida turn into hub of sex-determination test

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Rohtak, October 2

Ghaziabad and Noida of western Uttar Pradesh are turning into a hub of pre-natal sex determination test in National Capital Region (NCR) and proving to be a haven for residents desirous of sex determination of an unborn child.

The state health authorities have busted eight pre-natal gender test rackets during the past three months.

An analysis of the cases revealed that the majority of those who indulged in the racket were using unauthorised portable ultrasound machines in the crime, which were cost-effective, simple to handle and easily available while the test was conducted in the houses located in narrow streets, said the sources.

Sources informed that three of the eight rackets had been unearthed by Jhajjar health authorities, two by Gurugram and one each by Rewari, Palwal and Faridabad districts since June 19. A total 22 raids have been conducted in Ghaziabad and Noida during the past four years, five raids were carried out by Rohtak, four by Jhajjar, three each by Gurugram, Sonipat and Bhiwani, two by Rewari and one each by Palwal and Faridabad health authorities.

“The health authorities in Ghaziabad and Noida neither take action against those indulging in this illegal trade nor cooperate with the Haryana teams at the time of the raid. Even we have to struggle to get the FIR lodged against the perpetrators despite having all evidence against them as it is booked on the complaint of an officer of local authorities,” said an officer of Department of Health, Haryana, on anonymity.

He maintained that the health teams of Haryana had to face a difficult situation while carrying out raids in Ghaziabad and Noida as the local authorities normally avoid providing necessary help to them. Even they found it difficult to nab all those involved in the racket without any support there, he added.

Dr Achal Tripathi, Nodal Officer (PNDT), Jhajjar, admitted that they faced the issue of lack of support from UP health authorities in Ghaziabad while conducting raids to nab the violators of the PC-PNDT act. “The Ghaziabad authorities do not cooperate despite requests,” he added.