Nayagarh: Illegal termination of foetus has become a huge money spinning business for a handful of persons in Nayagarh district.
Alleged apathy of the district administration and a poor implementation of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC and PNDT) Act have emboldened the wrong-doers, a report said.
The involvement of a racket comprising people has brought a bad name to the district. Reports said the district advisory committee on the PC & PNDT Act has not had its sitting for last two years.
As a result, raids and search operations of medical establishments suspected to be involved in illegal termination of foetus have stopped in the district.
It is alleged that this has come as an opportunity for the racket involved in the illegal business as they carry out illegal termination of pregnancy with impunity.
Sources said several ultrasound and diagnostic centres are allegedly involved in illegal sex determination tests.
Even many ASHA workers, Auxiliary Nursing Midwives (ANMs), homeopathy doctors, retired doctors and quacks are allegedly involved in illegal termination of foetus in the district.
Locals have claimed that illegal termination of foetus can never be checked if the district administration does not tighten the PC and PNDT Act. Sources said this is an isolated case but is rampant in all over the district.
The arrest of an ASHA worker of Bhadikila in the district who was later jailed for illegal termination of pregnancy, three years back is a case in this point.
A doctor of Sunakahla was also arrested on similar charge. However, they have failed to have any effect as illegal termination of pregnancy is carried out with impunity in Bhadikila and Sunakahla regions of the district.
At present, a retired doctor of Sunakhala is reported to be involved in illegal abortions. Not only doctors, but many chemists in the district sell abortion pills to anybody without proper medical prescriptions.
As a result, women consuming the pills have abortions. However, these pills have disastrous side-effects on the health of women consuming these pills.
A woman wishing to remain anonymous said illegal determination of sex is rampant in Nayagarh town. She claimed one of her relatives underwent a sex determination test of her pregnancy at Nayagarh and later in Ganjam.
Both test reports claimed the unborn foetus as female. A youth of Gania area claimed that illegal sex determination and abortion was a statewide problem and can be found in even in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Ganjam.
However, one has to have some acquaintances in those clinics and diagnostic centre in Nayagarh to get the test and abortion done.
One can know the sex of the unborn child by paying money to the staff of the ultrasound clinics as per their demand.
Usha Patnaik, president of Gania Unnayan Parishad, said abortion of unborn foetus in Nayagarh district had created shockwaves all over the country in 2007.
However, the administration has failed to check the problem despite passage of 14 years. She said sustained efforts are required to stem the rot.
Collector Poma Tudu said illegal action will be taken against those involved in the wrongdoings.
PNN