In an effort to check the recent spate of PNDT centers, the Maharashtra government has carried out extensive special drives in 3832 centres in the state having pre-natal diagnostic technique facility. The drive was carried out in the 33 districts and 15 corporations in the State.

Talking to this correspondent, Dr. A.R. Belambe, Assistant Director, state Family Welfare Bureau, informed, "These special drives were planned as per the guidelines of the secretary, family welfare, Manmohan Singh, wherein the appropriate authorities were appointed for the inspection of the centres who tried to find out if the PNDT centres are following the rules of the PNDT Act."

The compiled reports from all the 48 centres (33 districts and 15 corporations) where the drive has been carried out, are yet to reach the bureau. "Till now only 20-24 centres have submitted the reports of the drive. Within next few months the final report should come out," said Dr. Belambe.

However, revealing his observation as a part of the team that carried out inspection, he said that the centres did not keep the detailed record of the patients as per the PNDT act and failed to give the proper addresses of the patients. "Legal action would be taken against the defaulters,'' averred he.

The officers also interacted with some of the patients registered at the centres to find out the status of the pregnant mothers and if any kind of illegal termination of the foetus has been carried out by the mother, he said.

Dr. Belambe further informed that in order to spread awareness amongst the doctors about the recent amendments done in the year Feb. 2003 in the PNDT ACT, a workshop would be organised in the month of November and December. The workshop would be carried out in 73 places all over Maharashtra.

"The workshop is a part of the project being carried out by European Commission. The expenses of the workshop are estimated to be around Rs. 785,000 lakh. Around 4483 doctors would participate in the workshop.'' The number of participants might increase further, he added.