In a country where almost ten million female foetuses are aborted annually, the Medical Council of India (MCI) has geared up to sensitise doctors against child sex determination. It is introducing a separate chapter in ‘ethics’ for MBBS students which will ensure that doctors are sensitive enough to deny any such act when asked by expecting couples.

“It is for the first time when the MCI is preparing such a curriculum. Its high time that the younger generation became sensitive to these issues,” a senior health ministry official told dna on the condition of anonymity.

The new curriculum is expected to start in the next academic session. This is not all. The ministry is also planning to introduce the issue in school curriculum as well.

“The Central Supervisory Board has approved the proposal to include declining sex ratio subject in school curriculum. Now the health ministry will write a letter to the HRD ministry to include the issue in NCERT books for all students till 8th standard,” he added.

According to Indian census, the sex ratio in the 0-6 age group in India went from 104.0 males per 100 females in 1981, to 105.8 in 1991, to 107.8 in 2001, to 109.4 in 2011. The ratio is significantly higher is some states such as Punjab and Haryana.

Reports also suggest that foetal sex determination and sex selective abortion has also become a Rs1,000 crore industry in the country.

Earlier this year, the ministry had prepared a list of 100 doctors across the country who had violated Pre-conception & Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, 1994 (PC & PNDT Act) and had sought action against them.

The ministry had sent the list detailing the punishment awarded to the doctors by various courts of the Medical Council of India which ranged from six months to five years of imprisonment to cancellation of medical licence apart from fine.