In a determined bid to eliminate gender-based prenatal discrimination, the Haryana government has launched a sweeping review of medical records across the state, intensifying its crackdown on illegal sex determination practices. The effort comes as officials report a notable improvement in the state’s Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB)—from a troubling 855 girls per 1,000 boys to a more hopeful 943 as recorded in early June. While the figures are still far from ideal, they mark a significant stride in a state long stigmatized for its skewed gender ratio.
The initiative, driven by the Health Department and supported by local law enforcement and district magistrates, involves a detailed review of all abortion-related cases from the past six months. Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) records are being scrutinized for irregularities, particularly in clinics located in districts historically flagged for gender-selective practices. In several districts including Sonipat, Jhajjar, Rewari, and Bhiwani, surprise inspections have already unearthed anomalies in patient logs and ultrasound records.
Authorities are cross-checking these records with sonography data to detect patterns that may indicate illegal sex-selective terminations. Clinics failing to maintain proper documentation or operating unregistered ultrasound machines have come under immediate scanner. In some cases, licenses have been suspended, FIRs lodged, and doctors summoned for interrogation. Officials emphasize that these steps are not symbolic but part of a zero-tolerance approach under the ambit of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act.
The campaign is also leveraging data intelligence tools, including AI-based analytics, to detect clusters of female foeticide. Health inspectors are now being trained to read between the lines—identifying unusual spikes in second-trimester abortions, sudden drops in female birth registrations, and suspicious repeat terminations among young women. This data-backed policing model is being hailed as one of the most technologically advanced enforcement drives against gender bias in prenatal care anywhere in the country.
This sharp focus on enforcement coincides with a proactive public awareness campaign under the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (BBBP) banner. Community-level outreach programs, school workshops, and local ASHA workers are playing an instrumental role in reshaping societal attitudes. Religious leaders, panchayat heads, and celebrities from Haryana are being roped in to send a unified message: daughters are not a burden—they are equal, valuable citizens.
The turnaround in SRB has prompted cautious optimism among policy experts. While one month’s data may not be enough to indicate a trend, the sudden jump from 855 to 943 suggests that coordinated enforcement, awareness, and community participation can indeed reverse deep-seated biases. Social activists, while appreciating the progress, warn against complacency. They urge sustained monitoring, increased funding for girl child welfare programs, and harsher penalties for repeat violators.
Officials have also clarified that this is not a one-time review but the beginning of a continuous monitoring framework. District Civil Surgeons are now required to submit monthly audit reports on prenatal diagnostics, while anonymous helplines are being strengthened to allow whistleblowers to safely report violations. Further, all clinics offering ultrasound or gynecological services must upload real-time data on a centralized health compliance portal to ensure greater transparency.
For Haryana, a state that has long battled the shame of female foeticide and patriarchal cultural pressures, this development is not merely statistical—it is symbolic. The rise in the number of girls being born reflects an evolving social conscience and a more vigilant state machinery. From legislation to grassroots education, a collective push is underway to change not just the ratio—but the very mindset that fuels such imbalances.
This story of change, however gradual, offers a template for other states grappling with similar challenges. Haryana’s battle is not yet over, but with sharper tools, firmer resolve, and a data-driven approach, the path forward seems clearer than ever.
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