Chandigarh, Mat 28 – Stepping up its crackdown on the illegal sale of abortion drugs, the Haryana Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has seized 1,787 medical termination of pregnancy (MTP) kits from seven districts between May 20 and 26, as part of a wider campaign to prevent sex-selective abortions.
The latest seizures bring the total to around 8,800 kits confiscated across the state since February 6, when a state task force (STF) was constituted under the Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao campaign to improve the sex ratio at birth (SRB).
According to State Drug Controller Manmohan Taneja, the biggest seizure was made in Yamunanagar, where 1,740 MTP kits were recovered from a distributor in Professor Colony. The rest came from Gurugram (6), Ambala (1), Palwal (3), Panipat (20), Jind (13), and Rewari (4).
“These kits were being sold in violation of Rule 96 of the Drugs Rules, 1945. Prosecution under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act will follow due process,” said Taneja.
In the past week alone, the FDA registered six FIRs, sealed three medical shops, and served notices to two medical firms. Violations under the MTP Act carry rigorous imprisonment of 2 to 7 years and are non-bailable and non-compoundable.
Officials noted a sharp reduction in wholesale distribution. The number of authorised MTP kit wholesalers has dropped from 32 to just six. Legal sales also saw a decline—373 kits were sold last week to registered centres.
Parallel actions during May 13–19 saw the closure of 25 MTP centres, three FIRs, and 921 kits seized. The licences of two doctors—one each in Kurukshetra and Assandh (Karnal)—were suspended for malpractice.
In a major social initiative, over 50,000 pregnant women with one or more daughters have been assigned an ASHA or anganwadi worker as SAHELI (companion) for counselling. Any suspicious abortion will now trigger an automatic inquiry and accountability of the SAHELI.
Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Sudhir Rajpal, who reviewed STF progress on Tuesday, directed senior medical officers (SMOs) to hold weekly reviews with community health officers (CHOs) to ensure zero tolerance for illegal abortions. Chief medical officers (CMOs) will also conduct weekly oversight every Wednesday.
“This coordinated enforcement and support model is aimed at protecting the rights of the girl child and restoring gender balance,” said a senior official.
