In a new move to improve the state’s sex ratio and prevent female foeticide, Haryana’s health authorities have made pregnancy registration mandatory for women before undergoing an ultrasound test. This rule applies to both government and private healthcare centres across the state.
This decision follows a concerning six-point drop in the state’s sex ratio at birth (SRB), which was 910 females for every 1,000 males in 2024. While this is a slight decline from 916 in 2023, it has raised alarms, especially in districts like Charkhi Dadri, Rewari, Rohtak, Faridabad, and Gurugram, where the SRB fell below 900.
The new directive requires that every pregnant woman must have an antenatal registration through an online government app. This registration creates a Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) ID, which will be issued with a card containing important details. This helps health officials track the woman throughout her pregnancy and ensures that no woman undergoes an ultrasound without registration.
In districts like Rohtak and Rewari, civil surgeons are ensuring strict implementation of this rule. If a woman arrives at an ultrasound centre without an RCH ID, she will be registered on the app before the test can be performed. Health officials are also working to speed up the registration process, especially for women from remote areas. The move aims to prevent the illegal practice of female foeticide and improve the state’s sex ratio at birth.
This initiative is already being hailed by health workers as an effective way to safeguard the rights of unborn girls and track pregnancies efficiently.
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