NEW DELHI: At a time when crime against women is steadily increasing and there is evidence of continued marginalization of women, the government is setting up a high level expert committee to report the socio-economic, political and legal status of women in India and evaluate the impact of government schemes. The committee – to be notified shortly – will be headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Ruma Pal. The 15-member panel will examine the overall status of women including the socio-economic, health and nutritional, legal and political status disaggregated by rural and urban populations, economic and social position. The analysis is expected to take into account cross-regional differences and focus on inequalities both within and outside the household.

It will also assess the impact made by existing policies and legislative changes on equality, security and holistic empowerment of women and will identify inequalities in policy and legislation a well as gaps in implementation. Incidentally, the last comprehensive status report was done three decades ago. Elaborating on the issue, women and child development minister Krishna Tirath said, “We wanted to verify how far legislations and polices have impacted women in India and the new challenges faced by women.”

Among the members who will be part of this panel are senior academicians, women’s rights activists, economists and women representing minorities and other disadvantaged groups. The committee is expected to conduct an intensive survey of literature and take stock of published data, reports, articles and research. The panel will have a two-year tenure but is expected to bring out background papers and working reports before the final report.

A day after PM Manmohan Singh flagged the issue of low participation of women in the labour force, the committee has been tasked with improving women’s access to and participation in formal and informal paid employment, the assets and income levels that they own besides the access to control of land and property. The societal attitude to women that have reflected in declining sex ratios in different age groups, customary practices like child marriage and dowry will also be addressed along with the impact of current legislation. The focus will be access to law, women’s inability to use laws effectively and sensitivity of law enforcement agencies as well as judiciary. The committee has been tasked to identify areas of intervention and recommend measures for affirmative action by the government for the holistic empowerment of women.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Govt-to-set-up-panel-to-study-status-of-women/articleshow/11905034.cms

Related articles

• Call for women’s quota in judiciary (indialawyers.wordpress.com)
• Forced Marriages in Haryana (traffickingnews.wordpress.com)
• Forced Marriages in Haryana (equalityindia.wordpress.com)
• ‘Everybody to blame for poor state of women’ (traffickingnews.wordpress.com)

Prof. K.V. Thomas was addressing the All-India Editors’ Conference on Social Sector Issues (ECSSI) in Puducherry today. According to Food Minister, the NFSB seeks to address the issue of food security in a comprehensive manner by adopting a life cycle approach. Prof. Thomas clarified that the additional financial implication of the NFSB is not going to be large. With the current coverage and entitlement and also taking into account estimated allocations under other welfare schemes, the food subsidy for 2012-13 is expected to be about Rs. 88997 crore. However, if we were to just update the coverage under TPDS (Targetted Public Distribution System) using 2011 census, the subsidy will be Rs. 109795 crore. In comparison, the estimated subsidy requirement under NFSB is estimated to be Rs. 1,12,205 crore, i.e., an additional amount of Rs. 2410 crore.

Prof. Thomas said that the perception of some states about the coverage under TPDS provide in the bill being restrictive and which will come in the way of universal PDS for a much higher coverage being implemented by them is misplaced. The Bill only specifies the minimum entitlement under TPDS and places obligations on central and state governments to fulfill them once the Act comes into force. He said that the apprehensions in some States about their food grain allocations under NFSB getting reduced is premature. The issue of state-wise coverage, corresponding the all-India coverage specified in the Bill, is yet to be decided.

Ministry of Rural Development and Planning Commission will consult the states to arrive at a consensus on the methodology that will seek to ensure that no poor or deprived household is excluded from coverage under different government programmes and schemes. The Minister clarified that the major impact of NFSB will be in terms of food subsidy which is estimated to be additional Rs. 23228 crore more in 2012-13,compared to the estimated requirement under existing TPDS and other welfare schemes.

On computerization of TPDS, Prof. Thomas said steps have been initiated for the computerization of the PDS in the country. States have been asked for the digitalization of ration card, computerized allocation of fair price shops to make the PDS more effective. Computerisation of TPDS has been taken under Mission Mode Project under national e-governance plan. The Standing Committee on Food & Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution is to hold consultations with the stake-holders in various states and modifications will be made in NFSB based on the consultations by the committee.

Image via Wikipedia

The Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways Dr. C.P. Joshi has said that the Roads are the arteries of life for any state or country. Economic Development reaches to the remote parts of the country through these roads. It needs no emphasis that better infrastructure is a prerequisite to the economic growth of the nation.  Delivering Valedictory  address at the ^“International Congress on Emergency Medical Service Systems (EMS 2012) highlighting key areas for delivery of emergency medical services in India”  organised by the Department of Hospital Administration of All –India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), here today. Our Govt. has accorded high priority to the development of National Highways in the country. With better roads and high growth in the automobile sector we are now facing a peculiar problem of increasing number of road accidents, fatalities  and  injuries  not only in India but also globally. It is now a serious challenge before all of us to provide safer roads to all road users through better policy formulation, enforcement, improved vehicular safety, education, awareness and better emergency medical services.

He  informed that his Ministry has committed to  provide 140 Advance Life Support  Ambulances to identified Trauma Care Centres being developed by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare along the National Highways. It is also planning to impart first aid training to drivers, toll booth operators and volunteers from nearby villages along National Highways and to give First Aid training in spinal and head injury cases.

Dr.  Joshi  said that the Union Cabinet has approved the National Road Safety Policy on 15^th March 2010 which inter-alia provides that Govt. will strive to ensure that all persons involved in road accidents benefit from speedy and effective trauma care and management. The essential functions of such a service would include the provision of rescue operation and administration of first aid at the site of an accident and the transport  of the victim from accident site to the nearby hospital. Hospitals alongside the National Highways and State Highways would be adequately equipped in future to provide for trauma care and rehabilitation.

Dr. Joshi said that the last meeting of the National Road Safety Council held on 25th March,2011 had formed five separate working groups on four E’s of Road Safety viz. (i) Education (ii) Enforcement (iii) Engineering (roads as well as vehicles) and  (iv) Emergency Care to lay out the macro and micro dimensions with potential solutions to road safety and to suggest short term and long term measures to curb road accidents  in the country . These reports are now available and will be placed in the next National Road safety Council Meeting on 29^th February, 2012. Congratulating Dr. Shakti Kumar Gupta, Head of the Department of Hospital Administration, AIIMS for bringing out a commendable report of Working Group on Emergency Care, he said that all the five reports of the working groups including emergency care are also available on the Ministry’s website (www.morth.nic.in)

Expressing his deep concern on the neglect of  Emergency services and trauma care in India, he said that the accident rate in our country is rising like in most developing countries, and the victims are in the 18-45 age-group which is  the most productive segment of our nation.  Vast majority of road traffic deaths in low-income and middle-income countries occur in the pre-hospital phase. But road traffic crashes and injuries are preventable. In high-income countries, an established set of interventions have contributed to significant reductions in the incidence and impact of road traffic injuries.

The Minister stressed on the strong need to have an urgent and comprehensive trauma care system encompassing the entire nation considering the magnitude of the problem. It is an essential service because injury victims must reach definitive care centers within the golden hour which is an crucial period of time in order to prevent death or disability. There is also a need to develop and implement state wide emergency medical service (EMS) and trauma care system, designate trauma facilities, and develop a trauma registry to monitor the system and provide state wise cost and epidemiological statistics. It is an accepted strategy of trauma care that if basic life support, first aid and replacement of fluids leading to initial stabilization can be arranged within first hour of the injury or ‘Golden Hour’, lives of many accident victims can be saved. Necessary activities to achieve this are initial stabilization by trained manpower, rapid transportation and medical facilities to treat such cases, all within a defined period of time, he added.

He said that his Ministry has studied the best practices being followed by some of the States particularly the Tamil Nadu model where they have set up a road safety council at state level and district councils at the district level. They have earmarked funds for addressing road safety issues. They have also set up emergency accident relief services and developed road accidents management data system. The data helps in identification of dark spots and generation of 12 other reports which further helps in taking remedial measures to control road accidents.

The Minister informed the gathering that  his Ministry  had held a meeting on the 13th January 2012 with Principal Secretaries (Transport)/Transport Commissioners and ADGs of Traffic of 13 States that account for 90% accidents and fatalities in the country. They have been requested to identify the top 25 dark spots in the states. Ministry will take up the top 5 spots for immediate treatment during the current financial year. It is also proposing to organize Seminars and Workshops involving the State Governments, all stakeholders, Academicians, Planners in order to raise the level of awareness on road safety issues and to work in a systematic manner to curb the rising trend of road accidents and fatalities.

Related articles

• Strict enforcement of traffic rules (thehindu.com)

Image via Wikipedia

Statement of Finanace Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee

“I am very happy to be here today to inaugurate this conference with its focus on improving public distribution system to meet the challenge of implementing food security in India. We have committed ourselves to providing access to affordable foodgrains for all our citizens. This is historic but a difficult promise that cannot be fulfilled unless we have an effective mechanism to translate our intent into reality. The PDS is an important part of that process.

Over the past six decades and since the great “Bengal famine”, we have come a long way. We have increased production significantly to ensure that we have enough for all. But we still have difficulty in converting this availability into effective accessibility to food in every nook and corner of the country, and particularly where it is most needed. Besides ensuring access to food for all, we also need to ensure that our citizens get basic nutrition to become more productive and be able to take advantage of the opportunities that come from our rapid economic development. The realization of food security for all has to be the basic building block in our efforts to steer the economy in meetings its larger development goals. Food and nutrition is indeed the most basic need without which education, work opportunities and wealth creation will remain a distant dream.

As India develops and living standards improve there is going to be an increase in demand for food grains and other items of consumption. We have seen the consequences of this phenomenon particularly in the past two years.

Sustained high economic growth in recent past has led to improvements in purchasing power in both rural and urban areas. The 12th Plan Approach Paper says that average real wage rate between 2007 and 2010 has increased by 16 per cent at the all India level. The growth was fastest in Andhra Pradesh, 42 per cent and Odhisa, 33 per cent. Even in States like Bihar and UP the real farm wages went up by 19 and 20 per cent respectively over this period. This has increased demand for certain goods and services, which has translated into persistent high inflationary pressures for those goods in the economy. The supply response has been inadequate and along with weather induced shortages in the food economy, have resulted in significant challenges for inflation management. Hopefully we are now out of this high inflationary phase, assisted by what appear to be two back-to-back bumper agricultural harvests.

Yet, I would like to suggest that for a country with growing population and a sustained growth momentum, food security challenge is also a challenge of improving agriculture productivity. For a country of 1.2 billion people it is imperative to build certain self-sufficiency in meeting our basic needs. It has been rightly pointed out that we need to increase production in the regions where acreage and productivity have lagged behind so far. We did achieve our self sufficiency in food by the Green Revolution, but we now need that second revolution that will take us to a new trajectory where we can feed all and feed them with a view to ensure nutrition balance as well. The Government has initiated a programme to take the green revolution to the eastern part of the country. More investment in agricultural infrastructure is required, which over the last few years has already seen a turnaround in its declining trend. Power, water, rural roads, national highways, storage, warehousing and cold chains have to be the focus areas for productivity improvement in the agriculture economy of the country. We also need more support in R&D and extension technology in agriculture from both private and public institutions.

Improved production of foodgrains has to be backed by our capacity to procure more foodgrains. The willingness of State Governments and their efforts to enhance institutional capacity as well as tying up finances required for procurement— both will be required. You need to ensure that farmer gets the MSP directly in his bank account. We have built a rural banking network that is robust and growing. But operational issues in popularizing banking amongst the rural masses remain and have to be fully addressed. The financial strength of the farmer increases his negotiating strength with buyers and indeed it enhances the returns he can get from his efforts. The debt cycle has been blamed for a number of ills in the agrarian sector in this country, and procurement is an important tool that can be used to eliminate that scourge.

The main challenge before the Public Distribution System today is reaching the foodgrains to the actual beneficiaries without leakages and diversion on the route to grass-root level. For this a massive modernization drive is required. Digitizing the data base of beneficiaries and computerization of the entire food supply chain will remain the main stepping stones on which we can make the PDS successful. These efforts would make the schemes transparent, help eliminate leakages and corruption and empower the beneficiaries to get what is indeed their right.

Modernization of TPDS is the foremost priority of Government of India. It is a complex and challenging task as PDS operates in 35 States and UTs through more than 5 lakh Fair Price Shops across diverse operating environments. PDS faces challenges like leakages and diversion of foodgrains, inclusion/exclusion errors; fake and bogus ration cards; lack of transparency; weak grievance redressal and social audit mechanisms, viability of Fair Price Shops, etc. I hope in this conference, you will discuss these issues and come up with a time bound action plan to achieve the targets.

The National Food Security Bill 2011 specifically refers to the need for TPDS reforms to leverage Aadhaar for unique identification, with authentication of entitled beneficiaries for proper targeting of benefits under the Act. Recognizing the immense scale of such a platform, and the complexity of implementation across multiple levels of Government, the Task Force on Direct Transfer of Subsidies has recommended the creation of a National Information Utility for the computerization of PDS – the Public Distribution System Network (PDSN).

Leveraging Adadhaar is one of the critical components in reforming the PDS. The beneficiaries of PDS can be enrolled into the Aadhaar system. The use of the Aadhaar number in PDS will reduce “duplicates”, “fakes” and “ghost beneficiaries” in PDS databases which will result in reducing wastage and diversion in the system.

Portability of benefits in PDS is of critical importance due to the migrant nature of India’s poor population who are the most important targets of the food security Act. An Aadhaar enabled system makes access to PDS benefits portable across a State and also the country. This would empower the PDS beneficiary due to portability of benefits and choice of the PDS shop. The bargaining power will shift from the supplier to the beneficiary which will support empowerment and bring about improved accountability.

Strengthening of PDS not only requires computerisation of operations but also an active involvement of Panchayati Raj Institutions and local community through transparent and open processes. A strong community ownership would require the setting up of a responsive grievance redressal mechanism. While, the use of ICT based technologies will help, there should not be any duplication of efforts and agencies involved. The Common Service Centres set up in various States should be optimally used and the support of multi-lateral organizations like World Food Programme (WFP) could be taken for capacity building and spreading of awareness among the stake holders. It is our responsibility that the legal entitlement made to deserving beneficiaries is honoured and efficiently delivered. All States and UTs should undertake modernization of PDS in a time bound manner.

Let me conclude by reiterating that I am very happy to see you all deliberating on this issue. I offer you the full support of the Finance Ministry in this task of reforming an important public delivery mechanism. I encourage you to take advantage of this Conference to come up with an action plan to help the citizens in your States get their fair share of what this country has to offer. Let us all strive to fully eradicate hunger and malnutrition from this country. I look forward to the outcomes of your deliberations.”

Related articles

• Tough to implement Food bill without revamping PDS: Pawar (thehindu.com)
• It’s a travesty of food security, says CPI(M) (thehindu.com)
• Key Food Security Bill introduced in Lok Sabha (thehindu.com)

Reblogged from HUMAN TRAFFICKING INDIA:

MOST IMMEDIATE F.No.15020/08/2007-ATC Government of India Ministry of Home Affairs To Chief Secretaries of all State Govts/UTs DGPs of all State Govts/UTs Nodal Officers (Anti Human Trafficking) of all States/UTs Sir, I am directed to refer to the subject mentioned above and to say that in order to encourage the good work done by the State Governments, Officers of the States/UTs and NGOs, it has been decided to give awards for the outstanding work done in the field of Human Trafficking. Accordingly, a …

Beside this, a scheme was launched in 2007 to provide legal /financial assistance to the deserted or divorced overseas Indian women through the Indian Missions/Posts. It was revised and the revised scheme came into effect from November, 2011. The scheme would be available to Indian women who have been deserted by their overseas Indian / foreign husbands or are facing divorce proceedings in a foreign country, subject to the following conditions:-

1. The marriage of the woman has been solemnized in India or overseas with an overseas Indian or a foreigner
2. The woman is deserted in India or overseas within fifteen years of the marriage; or
3. Divorce proceedings are initiated within fifteen years of the marriage by her overseas Indian / foreign husband; or
4. An ex-parte divorce has been obtained by the overseas Indian / foreign husband within twenty years of marriage and a case for maintenance and alimony is to be filed by her.

The scheme would not be available to a woman having a criminal case decided against her, provided that a criminal charge of Parental Child Abduction shall not be a bar if the custody of the child has not yet been adjudicated upon. The assistance will be limited to US$ 3000 per case in developed countries and US$ 2000 per case in developing countries and will be released to the empanelled legal counsel of the applicant or Indian Community Association / Women’s organization / NGO concerned to enable it to take steps to assist the woman in documentation and preparatory work for filing the case.

Marriages to Overseas Indians a Guidance Booklet

The Council would be chaired by the Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment. Other members of the Council include the Minister of State, Social Justice & Empowerment, the oldest Members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, representatives of 5 State Governments (one each from the North, South, East, West & North Eastern Regions) and 1 Union Territory by rotation, 5 representatives each from Senior Citizens’ Associations, Pensioners’ Association, NGOs working for Senior Citizens and Experts, and five senior citizens who have distinguished themselves in various fields.

The Council would be anchored in the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.

Image via Wikipedia

Union Minister of Labour & Employment shri Mallikarun Khage has called for furthering the steps to seek a safe future of children in the country. Shri Kharge was chairing the 1st meeting of the constituted Central Advisory Board on “Child Labour” here in New Delhi today. Following is the text of ministers’ speech:

“I warmly welcome the distinguished members of this newly constituted Central Advisory Board on “Child Labour”. I wish all the members of the Board a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Our Ministry of Labour & Employment has the important mandate to implement Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986. As per the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 employment of children below the age of 14 years is prohibited in 18 occupations and 65 processes. Some of the important prohibited occupations and processes are Abattoirs/Slaughter House, Automobiles, Handling of toxic or inflammable substances or explosives, Handloom and power loom industry, Mines (underground and under water) and collieries, Domestic workers or servants, Dhabas (roadside eateries), Diving, Circus and Caring of Elephants etc.

Child Labour is an area of great concern and Government of India is committed towards elimination of Child Labour in any form. In pursuance of the National Policy on Child Labour, the NCLP Scheme was started in 1988 to rehabilitate Child Labour. This is the major scheme for the rehabilitation of the child labour. Under the scheme, 271 districts were identified for implementation of the scheme and at present the scheme is operational in 266 districts in 20 States covering around 3.39 lakhs children through 7300 special schools. Under the Scheme, children withdrawn from work are admitted into special schools where they are provided with bridge education, vocational training, stipend of Rs. 150/-, Mid-Day Meal, health care, etc. Beside this the Ministry is also operating Grant in Aid Scheme for Child Labour. Under this Scheme, funds to the extent of 75% of the project cost, are released directly to the NGOs for elimination of the Child Labour in the districts where opening of NCLP School is not feasible.

Beside this funds to the tune of Rs. 21,000 crore have been allocated during current financial year for implementation of Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 and about 19 crore children were covered. Under MGNREGA, the budget outlay for the current financial year is Rs.40,000 crore and in this financial year employment to 3.31 crore households was provided, so far. Last year 5.49 crore households benefitted. Under Mid Day Meal Scheme fund allocated during current financial year is Rs.10.380 crore. Children benefitted during 2010-11 were 10.46 crore. Under the Integrated Child Protection Scheme of Ministry of Women & Child Development, during current financial year, fund of Rs. 270 crore has been allocated and about 94,310 children were benefitted during 2010-11.

Due to all out efforts of Government of India, there is a decline in trend of economically active children in the age group of 5-14 years in India. As per NSSO survey 2004-05, there were 90.75 lakhs working children in India. This has come down to 49.84 lakhs as per NSSO 2009-10 survey which shows a decline by 45 percent.

To further strengthen the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act 1986, the Ministry is contemplating Amendment in the existing Act which proposes complete ban on employment of Children upto 14 years of age. This has become essential due to the enactment of Right to Education Act, 2009, under which every child in the age group of 6-14 years is to be provided free and compulsory education. This issue was discussed recently in a meeting held on 11.1.2012 with all the State Secretaries and the representatives from Central Government Ministries, where almost all the participants were unanimous on the issue of complete ban on employment of Children upto the age of 14 years.

Children are the future of the country. We have not only to keep them safe, but also build them up as strong individuals. Mahatma Gandhi said, “I have also seen children successfully surmounting the effects of an evil inheritance. That is due to purity being an inherent attribute of the soul”. We are the custodians of that purity of the soul of our children. With this responsibility on our shoulders we must dedicate ourselves in this noble work.

Today’s meeting has been called mainly to discuss this important issue of Amendment of Child Labour Act., which would invariably be one of the most important steps taken by our country towards elimination of Child Labour. I wish that we engage in fruitful discussion today and I am confident that with your views we would be able to make the Child Labour Act an effective Act, setting the tone towards a brighter future for millions of our children.”

On this occasion a presentation entitled Child Labor was also made by the Joint Secretary in the M/o Labour & Emloyment Shri Anup Chandra Pandey. The presentation contains gist from the National Child Labour Policy, Legislative Provisions- Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation)Act 1986,The National Child Labour Project and major Activities under NCLP scheme, Issues for discussion regarding Amendments in the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act, 1986, International Principles and Rights for children, ILO Convention 182-worst forms of Child Labour and the main hurdle in its ratification.

Most of the members advised for strict implementations of Laws prohibiting the exploitation of Child labourers, their schooling facilities, ensuring foolproof implementation of National Child Labour Project and stringent norms for the proposed amendments in the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act, 1986. Shri Kharge assured members that their suggestions will be taken care of in the future course of action.

The members participating in the meeting besides Labour & Employment Secretary Dr. M. Sarangi included S/shri Shishupal Singh –Vice Chairman, Manik Tagore-MP Lok Sabha, Shri Dhirendra Pratap Singh-Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, Shri R.a. Mittal –Hind Mazdoor Sabha, Ms. Amarjeet Kaur-All India Trade Union Congress, Shri Mahantesh Patil, Shri B.P. Pant –FICCI, M.L. Dhawan, Laghu Udyog Sangh, Ms. Helen Seker-VVGNLI, Shri Aamod Kanth from Childline India and representatives from Planning Commission, M/o Rural Development, M/o Women & Child Development, M/o HRD and M/o Social Justice.

Related articles

• Policy for Placement Agencies to Minimise Child Labour (equalityindia.wordpress.com)
• Child trafficking rampant in Gujarat, NCPCR tells govt (traffickingnews.wordpress.com)
• Problem of Child Labour (equalityindia.wordpress.com)
• Kids continue to toil away their childhood (traffickingnews.wordpress.com)
• ‘Child trafficking a serious problem’ (traffickingnews.wordpress.com)
• Survey of child labour in five U.P. districts ordered (thehindu.com)
• Child rights panel orders survey of child labour in UP (thehindu.com)

JAIPUR: In a bid to intensify the fight against female foeticide, the state government has launched a new scheme which promises reward to those who can provide information about sex selection activities at neighbourhood clinics, hospitals and sonography centres.

The government has introduced a ‘mukhbir yojna’, under which a person providing confirmed information about the involvement of a doctor or a medical staff in sex determination will get a reward of Rs 25,000. A reward of equal prize money has also been set aside for those who can give information about unregistered and illegal sonography machines.

“We will use the information as a lead to conduct raids. After collecting evidences, we will present it before the court,” a PCPNDT (Pre Conception and Pre Natal Diagnostic Technique) cell officer said.

Expressing concern over the sliding sex ratio in the state which stands at 883 as per the 2011 Census against 909 in 2001, Jaipur district collector Navin Mahajan said, “The scheme will motivate informers and general public to give secret information about sex determination.”

A medical and health department official said, “Earlier, we used to give Rs 1,000 for any information on sex determination, but now we have launched a full-fledged scheme to encourage informers.”

The government’s earlier efforts to encourage informers on providing such vital information did not meet with success. It had launched a website where in any person can provide information on sex determination practices without revealing identity. However, with the new scheme, the state is optimistic about getting more informers on the board.

The state government has also given police the power to file complaints against the accused involved in sex determination practice. Under the Pre-Conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, 1994, the state government has authorized the police (not below the rank of sub inspector) to file complaints in the court.. The move is aimed to instill fear of arrest among offenders.

It has issued notification to authorize sub divisional magistrates (SDMs) to conduct raids and suspend licenses of sonography centres involved in sex selection. Earlier, such powers rested with the deputy chief medical officer, an official said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Rs-25k-reward-for-information-on-sex-selection-in-state/articleshow/11518972.cms

Related articles

• ‘Many unaware of ban on sex determination test’ (thehindu.com)

A number of measures have been taken to tackle the menace of human trafficking by the Union Home Ministry.  A review meeting  with all States Anti-Trafficking Nodal Officers is scheduled to be held on 18^th January 2012 to review the progress of Anti-Human trafficking initiatives taken by the states.

An Anti-Trafficking Nodal Cell set up in Ministry of Home Affairs acts as a focal point for communicating various decisions and follow up  on  action  taken  by the  State  Governments.    Coordination meetings are held with the State Anti-Trafficking Nodal Officers in MHA periodically. Since 2007, ten coordination meetings have been held.

A Comprehensive Scheme “Strengthening law enforcement response in India against Trafficking in Persons through Training and Capacity Building, was sanctioned wherein it was proposed to establish 330 Anti Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs ) throughout  the country and impart training to 10,000  police officers through Training of Trainers ( TOTs) component. The Home Ministry released Rs. 8.72 crores as first instalment for the year 2010-11, to all the State Governments for establishing 115 Anti Human Trafficking Units.   101 AHTUs have become functional.  In 2011-12 110 AHTUs are to be established.

A Project on “Strengthening law enforcement response in India against trafficking in persons through training and capacity building” was taken up as a joint initiative of the Government of India and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, in select States.  The joint project has contributed towards developing of 12 very important resource books about Protocols and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and  in setting  up  of Anti Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs).