Odisha has identified five districts with low sex ratio at birth and ordered stricter enforcement of the PC-PNDT Act, inspections and awareness campaigns
OdishaPlus Bureau
Concerned over the declining sex ratio at birth in several parts of the State, the Odisha government has directed five districts with the lowest number of female births per 1,000 male births to intensify inspections, strengthen enforcement of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC-PNDT) Act, and launch extensive public awareness campaigns.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the State Supervisory Board under the PC-PNDT Act, chaired by Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling.
The Board identified Nayagarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Ganjam and Khurda as the five lowest-performing districts in terms of the Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB), while Jajpur emerged as the best-performing district on the indicator.
Expressing concern over the imbalance, Mahaling said the government would take all necessary measures to improve the sex ratio in the identified districts.
“District authorities have been directed to intensify inspections, ensure 100 per cent verification of records and undertake intensive awareness efforts to improve the sex ratio at birth,” the minister said.
He said district-level monitoring committees would be strengthened and surveillance of ultrasound clinics intensified to prevent misuse of prenatal diagnostic technologies for illegal sex determination.
“Special emphasis will be given to creating public awareness,” Mahaling said, stressing the need for strict enforcement of the PC-PNDT Act to curb sex-selective practices.
According to official figures, district authorities conducted 649 inspections of ultrasound clinics between 2024 and 2026, while the State-level authorities carried out 11 inspections during the same period.
The enforcement drive resulted in the sealing of six illegal ultrasound clinics, seizure of six ultrasound machines, and initiation of disciplinary proceedings against several government doctors and officials for violations of the law.
The State government hopes that stricter monitoring, enhanced enforcement and sustained public awareness campaigns will help improve the sex ratio at birth and discourage illegal prenatal sex determination practices across Odisha.