Sex determination test just an idea, no formal proposal yet: Maneka

There is no formal proposal for pre-natal sex determination and the idea is at the discussion stage, Women and Child Development (WCD) Minister Maneka Gandhi today clarified amidst a raging debate over her remark that such a test be made compulsory to check female foeticide.

"Minister WCD clarifies that there is no Cabinet proposal for tracking the sex of a foetus and that compulsory determination of foetal sex is an idea given by some stakeholders," the ministry tweeted. 

Gandhi had on Monday said: "In my personal view, the woman should be compulsorily told whether it is a boy or girl child whom she is going to give birth to. I am just putting out this idea. It is being discussed though there is no conclusion yet."  

Her suggestion evoked sharp reaction from activists and netizens as it would result in lifting the ban on pre-natal sex determination under the PCPNDT Act. "At least the present law has maintained a certain level of fear with respect to sex determination even among the rural and illiterate populace," read a tweet. 

However, the ministry issued a statement on Tuesday, saying while such an idea had been mooted, there was no Cabinet proposal in this regard.

Union Minister Maneka Gandhi's reported suggestion for making prenatal sex determination compulsory to check female foeticide has drawn sharp criticism from DCW chief Swati Maliwal, who said the "dangerous" move will threaten the birth rate of girl child. Maliwal posted a series of tweets to protest the move which will "increase female foeticide phenomenally."