In an effort to address the alarming decline in Haryana’s sex ratio, the state government has intensified its crackdown on illegal practices. A Special Task Force (STF) recently uncovered that people have been secretly purchasing Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) kits online, despite strict bans on prenatal sex determination and abortion in the state. The illegal kits are reportedly being supplied from Goa, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh.
The government has registered 14 FIRs against e-commerce companies and arrested five people involved in the illegal trade. These actions come in response to the alarming decline in the state’s sex ratio, which has now dropped to its lowest level in the last eight years.
Haryana’s Drug Controller, Manmohan Taneja, revealed that authorities had received information regarding widespread misuse of MTP kits in the state. To investigate, Taneja personally ordered the kits online. Upon delivery, a formal complaint was filed with the police.
MTP kits are meant for terminating pregnancies under medical supervision. Without a doctor’s prescription, using these drugs can be extremely dangerous and even life-threatening.
The Haryana Health Department will closely monitor 62,000 pregnant women, especially those with one or more daughters, in nearly 500 villages where the sex ratio at birth is below 700 girls per 1,000 boys. Awareness is being raised through helpline 104, informing women that female foeticide is a punishable crime. Special Beti Bachao Beti Padhao camps will also be held in these villages.
MTP Kit Racket in Bihar
According to records from Haryana’s Drug Controller Office, officials in Kurukshetra district placed two separate online orders for MTP kits on February 17 from an e-commerce marketing company based in Bhagalpur, Bihar. Both orders were delivered on February 24, after which two FIRs were registered the same day.
Declining Sex Ratio in Haryana
The misuse of illegally procured MTP kits has fueled sex-selective abortions, further widening the gender gap in Haryana. In 2024, the sex ratio stands at just 910 girls for every 1,000 boys—its lowest in eight years. Authorities fear that continued illegal access to these kits could worsen the already critical situation.
Prescription Required for MTP Kits
MTP kit contains five tablets classified under Schedule-H drugs, which require a valid doctor’s prescription for purchase. Packaging also clearly states that the medication should only be used under the supervision of a gynecologist. While government hospitals and some private healthcare facilities use these drugs for terminating pregnancies up to nine weeks, they are strictly administered under medical supervision.
However, the illegal online sale and delivery of MTP kits have led to widespread misuse, violating both legal and safety regulations. Authorities are continuing their efforts to curb these practices in hopes of restoring a healthier sex ratio in the state.
