Lok Sabha Question No. 202 (STARRED), answered on 2018-03-09
Subject: Medical Termination of Pregnancy
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: SANJAY JAISWAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 202 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 9 TH MARCH, 2018

## MEDICAL TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY

## *202. DR. SANJAY JAISWAL:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is considering to review and strengthen the Medical Termination  of  Pregnancy  (MTP) (Amendment)  Bill,  2014,  if  so,  the  details thereof and the reasons therefor a long with the steps taken and the timeline set in this regard;
- (b) whether the Government is also con idering to treat advanced pregnancies of minor rape victims and those of women with fetal abnormalities as exceptions to the strengthened MTP Act of 1971 and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the details of initiatives taken by the Government regarding the Supreme Court directives to set up State medical boards to expedite action in abortion cases?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE ( SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY )

(a) to (c): A Statement laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 202* FOR 9 TH MARCH , 2018

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(a) The  Ministry  of  Health  &  Family Welfare  conducted  extensive  consultative process (initiated in 2006) with experts representing Central Ministries Departments  including  AYUSH,  NGOs,  academic  institutions,  State  Governments, professional associations including Federation of Obstetric & Gynaecological Societies (FOGSI) and Indian Nursing Council (INC), civil society representative lawyers, with the objective of proposing suitable amendments. Inputs were also s from National Commission for Women (NCW) and the Ministry of Law and Justice.

Following  the  inter -ministerial  consultations,  the  draft  Medical  Termination  o Pregnancy  (MTP)  (Amendment)  Bill,  2014  was  placed  in  public  domain  for comments. Taking into account both the public opinion and the recommendations fr thedeliberations, the proposed MTP (Amendment) Bill, 2016 has been drafted.

(b) The proposed amendments to MTP Act 1971 focuses on improving the scope of legal access to MTP for special category of women which includes survivors of r victims of incest, single women (unmarried/divorced/widowed to be established on basis of self - certification of woman), and other vulnerable women (differently - abled women).

The upper gestational limit for termination of pregnancy for survivors of ra been proposed to be increased from 20 weeks to 24 weeks. For pregnancies diagnos with su bstantial fetal abnormalities, it has been proposed, that no upper gestati would apply for termination.

(c) As per the directions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court, State/UT Governments have been  asked  to  constitute  Permanent  Medical  Boards  in  each  State for  urgent examination  of  cases  referred  to  by  the  Hon'ble  District  Courts,  High  Courts  and Supreme Court for MTP beyond 20 weeks so that immediate opinion can be given and urgent action can be taken.

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