Issued by: Dr. P. Jagadeeswara Rao, District Medical and Health Officer, Visakhapatnam. Date: 13.06.2026.

Visakhapatnam: Indian News Times: 13 June Speaking to the press today (13.06.2026), Dr. P. Jagadeeswara Rao, District Medical and Health Officer, Visakhapatnam, announced that the State Government has established a toll-free helpline number, 1800 233 2447, to receive information regarding violations of the PCPNDT Act. He stated that the government is committed to protecting the rights of the girl child and eradicating gender discrimination. He emphasized that public participation is crucial for the effective implementation of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994, which aims to curb illegal activities such as prenatal sex determination and sex selection. He noted that the State Government has made the toll-free helpline number 1800 233 2447 available to receive reports from the public. He further stated that activities such as determining the sex of the fetus, promoting sex determination services, and encouraging sex selection are illegal; such actions not only exacerbate gender inequalities in society but also negatively impact the female child birth ratio.   Illegal activities related to prenatal sex determination 

 Advertisements for sex determination services 
 Unauthorized scanning or diagnostic centers 
 Any actions promoting sex selection 

Information regarding these issues can be reported via the helpline. It was stated that information received through the helpline would be kept strictly confidential, and appropriate inquiries and legal actions would be initiated by the concerned authorities. Protecting the girl child is the responsibility of every citizen; an appeal was made to women's groups, youth organizations, medical professionals, public representatives, and the general public to cooperate in the implementation of the PCPNDT Act.

         District Medical and Health Officer, 
                        Visakhapatnam.