Mumbai: Maharashtra has stepped up its drive against sex-selective abortions by inspecting nearly every sonography centre in the state and conducting sting operations, but convictions under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act remain low.A state govt report shows that of Maharashtra’s 11,837 registered sonography centres, almost 99% were inspected during 2024-25 through quarterly and special inspection drives. Yet, despite the extensive surveillance, only 10% of the sting operations carried out between April 2024 and March have successfully exposed clinics allegedly engaged in illegal prenatal sex determination. “We have carried out 118 sting operations in the last two years, and 13 have been successful so far,” said a senior official from the state health department.Citing Census data, the report said that the state’s child sex ratio (0-6 years) declined from 946 girls per 1,000 boys in 1991 to 894 in 2011. Based on demographic estimates, the report estimated that over four lakh girls are “missing” due to sex-selective abortions.To implement the PCPNDT Act, the enforcement mechanism has the State Appropriate Authority, district authorities, supervisory boards, advisory committees and district working groups. However, prosecution has been poor.Since the law came into force, authorities have registered 627 criminal cases, said the senior official. Of these, only 127 have ended in convictions, while 332 resulted in acquittals. Only three registrations or licences have been cancelled or withdrawn.Officials say inspections, sting operations, a toll-free helpline and a ₹1 lakh reward for informants are part of the state’s continuing efforts to curb illegal sex determination and improve Maharashtra’s skewed child sex ratio.
