Mumbai: The Maharashtra government will constitute a task force to crack down on illegal abortions and prevent prenatal sex determination, an official said on Tuesday.As per a government resolution issued by the public health department, the task force, led by MLC Neelam Gorhe, will conduct surprise inspections of sonography centres and clinics, review enforcement across districts, and recommend swift action in cases of illegal sex determination and female foeticide.It will ensure effective implementation of the Pre-Conception and Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994, as amended in 2003, and the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, 1971.MLCs Pragya Satav, Bhavana Gawali, Chitra Wagh, Uma Khapre and Manisha Kayande, and MLAs Sneha Dubey Pandit and Shweta Mahale have been appointed as members.The Additional Director, State Family Welfare Bureau, Pune, will serve as member-secretary.The task force, which will have a tenure of three years, will visit districts and municipal corporations to review implementation of the PC&PNDT Act and recommend corrective measures to the government.District collectors, municipal commissioners and other appropriate authorities have been directed to provide administrative, technical and record-related assistance to the task force during its visits.The task force will submit reports on its inspections and recommendations to the Public Health Department every three months, based on which necessary administrative action will be taken.
