The Maharashtra government on Tuesday, 8 September constituted a high-level State Task Force to strengthen enforcement of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act and the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, targeting illegal sex determination, female foeticide, and a declining child sex ratio across the state. The Government Resolution was issued by the Public Health Department, following a formal proposal submitted by the Additional Director of the State Family Welfare Office, Pune, on 20 August.

Why the Task Force Was Formed

State health authorities cited recent and widespread violations of both the PCPNDT and MTP Acts across multiple districts as the trigger for this intervention. Officials identified an urgent need for multi-departmental coordination to conduct inspections and maintain active surveillance over sonography centres and MTP facilities. The resolution underscores that balancing the sex ratio at birth remains a pressing public health priority for Maharashtra.

Composition and Leadership

The State Task Force will be headed by former Legislative Council Deputy Chairperson Dr Neelam Gorhe and features prominent women legislators. Its members include Dr Pragya Satav (Member of Legislative Council), Bhavana Gawali (MLC), Chitra Wagh (MLC), Uma Khapre (MLC), Dr Manisha Kayande (MLC), Sneha Dubey Pandit (MLA – Vasai), and Shweta Mahale (MLA – Chikhli). The Additional Director, State Family Welfare Office, Pune, will serve as Member Secretary.

Powers and Mandate

The task force has been granted extensive powers. It will conduct unannounced inspections of sonography centres, diagnostic laboratories, and MTP facilities alongside local administrative officers to ensure full legal compliance. It is also empowered to direct local Appropriate Authorities — District Civil Surgeons for districts and Municipal Medical Health Officers for civic bodies — to initiate swift criminal or legal action against any facility found violating either Act.

Additionally, the task force will submit proposals to resolve administrative bottlenecks and legal loopholes, suggest social awareness measures highlighting the value of the girl child, and hold district and municipal-level review meetings to streamline joint enforcement. District Collectors, Municipal Commissioners, and Civil Surgeons are required to extend full administrative, technical, and documentary support during task force visits.

Funding and Reporting

Operational expenses — including transport, fuel, lodging, and meals during field visits — will be funded through the 50 per cent share of registration and renewal fees collected from sonography centres, in accordance with state financial rules and a Government Resolution dated 20 February 2025. The task force is mandated to submit a detailed observation and recommendation report to the Public Health Department every three months. Its tenure is fixed at three years.

Existing Enforcement Mechanisms

This comes amid an already active enforcement landscape. State health authorities run specialised inspection drives across thousands of registered sonography and MTP centres, with offending clinics facing machine sealing, suspension of medical licences, and criminal charges. The state also maintains dedicated toll-free helplines and online portals — including Aamchi Mulgi — for citizens to report illegal sex determination and clandestine abortion clinics. In cases involving organised rackets run by medical professionals or illegal syndicates, authorities have invoked the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) to enforce stiffer penalties and prevent repeat offences.

With a three-year mandate and quarterly reporting requirements, the new task force signals a sustained institutional push — rather than a one-off drive — to address one of Maharashtra's most persistent public health challenges.