Rajasthan fared poorly in implementing prohibiting pre-natal sex selection law: CAG

JAIPUR: Rajasthan Government has fared poorly in implementing the law prohibiting pre-natal sex selection in the state, according to CAG audit for the year 2013-14.

The audit has claimed that the state government performed poorly in implementing the Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC&PNDT) Act, specifically in the areas of inspection of sonography centres and operationalisation of PC&PNDT bureau of investigation.

"There was shortfall in inspection of sonography centres. PC&PNDT Bureau of Investigation was not operationalised with crucial posts lying vacant," the CAG audit stated.

"The government did not nominate medical geneticist, eminent social workers, and legal experts to the district and sub-division level advisory committees as required under the Act for necessary advice to the appropriate authority," it said.

"The requisite inspections of sonography centres were not carried out during the period 2012-14 in test checked districts," the report highlighted.

The audit report stated that the state was providing nutritional benefits at Rs 5 per day to each beneficiary under the Centre's Kishori Shakti Yojna (KSY) and Rajiv Gadhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (SABLA) which was less than that provided under Mid-Day Meal programme.

Also the same was not being provided to a large number of adolescent girls, the report added.

Rajasthan government needs to review the coverage of beneficiary under the KSY, the auditor insisted, adding that merging of KSY and SABLA needs to be considered as both the schemes address similar issues.

The cost limit fixed for providing nutrition to girls also needs to be reviewed due to prevalence of malnutrition and anaemia among adolescent girls in the state, the audit report stated.