NHRC has been expressing its deep concern on the adverse sex ratio in the country. Modern technology coupled with retrograde mindsets had seen a rise in the instance of female foeticide leaving a skewed sex ratio of 927 (in the 0-6 years group, census 2001). This heinous crime would have grave implications in terms of the human rights of the girl child and on the social fabric of the society. Despite the law, namely the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagonistic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act in place since 1994, the law flouters, flourish unabated, which was apparent, as the conviction rate was low.
Keeping this in view, the Commission in collaboration with UNFPA has undertaken a research study entitled the "Research and Review of cases under the PCPNDT Act" which aims at highlighting the impediments in the effective implementation of the law through an in-depth case law analysis and field study covering 18 states of the country. It is likely to be completed in a year's time.
The UNFPA would provide financial aid while Research is to be carried out by the Commission. NHRC has taken on board two research agencies which would be conducting the field work in specified States. A Technical Advisory Group has also been constituted, comprising representatives from NHRC, UNFPA, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, legal experts and research agencies. This group would hold regular meetings in order to closely monitor the research and fine - tune the methodology.