In a major crackdown on content that fuels gender discrimination, the Central government has blocked access to more than a thousand websites that were promoting the birth of baby boys. The action, taken over the past few months, targets online platforms offering videos and content, including specific pujas, allegedly to ensure the birth of a male child.
Government's Stern Action Against Online Gender Bias
The move was highlighted by Meera Srivastava, Joint Secretary for Reproduction and Child Health at the Union Health Ministry. Speaking at a one-day workshop in Jaipur on Wednesday, she revealed the scale of the government's digital purge. The workshop, focused on the effective implementation of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, was held at the RAS Club auditorium and attended by district authorities and coordinators.
Srivastava stated that the Centre is maintaining a vigilant watch on such misleading websites that perpetuate harmful discrimination between sons and daughters. "The Centre blocked 1,000 websites that offer various types of videos or other content like performing pujas for producing baby boys," she said, underscoring the government's commitment to tackling deep-seated societal biases.
A Call for Coordinated State Action
Despite the significant number of blocks, Srivastava admitted that completely eradicating such content remains a "big challenge." She called for proactive initiatives from state governments, urging them to identify similar platforms and take necessary action through the official Sahyog portal. This coordinated effort between the Centre and states is seen as crucial for a more effective crackdown.
She also directed states to prepare a clear time frame for the registration and renewal of sonography machines, a key provision under the PCPNDT Act aimed at preventing sex-selective abortions.
Rajasthan's Model and Nationwide Awareness Drive
Applauding the efforts in Rajasthan for the Act's implementation, Srivastava suggested that the experiences and best practices from the state should be shared with others to create a unified national front. She emphasized the need to make public awareness campaigns more impactful.
A significant part of this effort is the campaign built around the powerful slogan: "Ladka-Ladki Barabar Hai, To Puchna Kyon" (If boys and girls are equal, then why ask?). The ultimate goal, as stated by the senior health official, is to fundamentally update and change the perception of equality between daughters and sons among the common public, moving beyond enforcement to genuine social change.
