Southern States - Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram   

Govt. probing foeticide incidents

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Aug. 11. The reported increase in incidents of foeticide in the State was being looked into by the Government and if it was found to assume a social dimension, appropriate action would be taken to prevent it, said P.K. Kunhalikutty, Minister for Industries and Social Welfare.

Replying to a series of questions and supplementaries in the State Assembly during Question Hour today, he said stringent action would be taken against private hospitals if it was found that there was a deliberate attempt on their part to encourage foeticide.

The Government was viewing with concern reports that around 39,000 incidents of foeticides had taken place over a one-year period. If need be, the Government would even bring about a legislation to prevent foeticide in the State, he added.

Insurance for girl child

The State Government was considering an insurance cover for the girl child, taking into account several Centrally-sponsored schemes. The Juvenile Justice Act would be implemented in toto in the State which would ensure that certain stringent guidelines were followed in the matter of arrest of children by police, Mr.Kunhalikutty said.

The Government was committed to providing better facilities in the `anganwadis'. It had come to the attention of the Government that anganwadi workers were being deputed for works of a miscellaneous nature like surveys and other related jobs, to the extent that the normal functioning of the anganwaids was being affected. This would be put an end to, the Minister said.

There was an allocation of Rs. 61.10 crores in the State budget for the current year, for various schemes under the Department of Social Welfare, Mr.Kunhalikutty said. Additional funds could be provided through supplementary grants, if required, he added.

The KINFRA has received Central assistance to the tune of Rs. 5.24 crores for the promotion of the food processing industry in the State. The State Government was committed to providing a fillip to the food processing industry. It had been decided to present more branded processed products from Kerala at the Trade Festival in Dubai, Mr.Kunhalikutty informed.

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