With an aim to balance demographic equation pertaining to “gender equality”, deep-rooted prejudice and discrimination against the girl child, the Delhi Government on Wednesday approved “informer reward scheme illegal sex determination tests” in the Cabinet.
For this, the Cabinet approved the Department of Health proposal of informer reward scheme under Pre Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, 1994 Act for both informer and Decoy patient for informing about unregistered center or machine.
Notably, as per the Civil Registration System (CRS) data the sex ratio at birth witnessed 809 female against 1,000 in 2001, 848 in 2007, 886 in 2012 and 902 in the year 2016.
According to minutes of the Cabinet meeting, reward money of Rs 50,000 will be given to the informer for informing about the unregistered centre or machine or any other information pertaining to violation of PC and PNDT act.
The Government’s spokesperson also highlighted that reward amount of Rs 1,50,000 will be given to decoy pregnant lady (decoy customer) on the successful completion of decoy/sting operation. “Rs 50,000 to decoy patient in the event of unsuccessful decoy operation, to compensate the decoy patient for her efforts, however the informer shall not be compensated in any form in case unsuccessful decoy operation,” as stated in Government’s official statement.
The notification further reads that honouring all decoy patients by a certificate signed by the Chief Minister of their participation in implementation of PC & PNDT Act. “These certificates to all decoy patients will be distributed district wise in a function like Independence Day flag hosting function in district office by the Concerned District Magistrate on yearly basis,” said Delhi Government’s spokesperson.
Keeping in view the issue of the survival of girl child, the department intends to rope in the link of informers.
“To motivate and mobilise the community to share information of such illicit activities and to conduct successful decoy operations based on the information, the idea of scheme was conceived, discussed and approved in the State Supervisory Board,” the Government said in a statement.
