Panchkula (National Times): In a significant move to combat female foeticide and improve maternal health, the Health Department of Haryana has intensified the implementation of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC&PNDT) Act across the state.
A State Task Force, led by the Additional Chief Secretary (Health), has been formed to ensure strict enforcement of the law. This task force is conducting regular field visits, holding review meetings, and taking strict punitive action against violators of the Act.
In a landmark initiative, the state has decided to assign a dedicated caregiver, known as a “Saheli”, to every pregnant woman carrying a girl child. This caregiver will be either an Anganwadi Worker (AWW) from the Women and Child Development (WCD) Department or an Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) under the National Health Mission (NHM).
“Saheli” will provide ongoing emotional and healthcare support to the woman from the early stages of pregnancy until the safe delivery of the child.
As per directives issued in a joint meeting of the Health Department, NHM, and WCD, the following steps have been mandated:
The NHM will share data on pregnant women with the WCD Department.
Based on this data, the WCD will assign AWWs, while NHM will assign ASHAs to act as “Sahelis.”
The assigned caregiver will serve as the primary point of contact for the woman, ensuring support and access to necessary maternal care.
The government has instructed that this initiative be rolled out immediately to ensure every pregnant woman in Haryana receives a “Saheli.”
This program aims to empower women, promote safe childbirth, and address gender bias in prenatal care, reinforcing the state’s commitment to ending female foeticide.
