Tamil Nadu Launches Specialized Training Camps to Strengthen PCPNDT Implementation and Gender Equality Initiatives

As per the guidance of the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, under the scheme for implementing advanced technologies to determine the nature of the fetus before conception and before birth, a skill development training camp was inaugurated and presided over by the Hon’ble Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Thiru. Ma. Subramanian.

Hon’ble Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Thiru. Ma. Subramanian, today (31.05.2025), at the Tamil Nadu Government Multi-Specialty Super Specialty Hospital in Omandurar Government Estate, Chennai, inaugurated and presided over the skill development training camp launched as part of implementing advanced technologies to determine the nature of the fetus before conception and before birth under Announcement No. 91 of the Budget Announcement for the year 2025-26. He later informed the media as follows:

In the current financial year, under the guidance of the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, 122 announcements have been made in the Department of Health and Family Welfare. Of these 122 announcements, Government Orders have been issued for 96 announcements. Among these, 4 announcements have been fully implemented. Under that, Announcement No. 91 is being implemented today. Announcement No. 91 pertains to the determination of fetal characteristics and the effective implementation of the PCPNDT Act. Accordingly, Tamil Nadu has been divided into four zones—Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, and Kanyakumari—wherein training for the implementation of the PCPNDT Act (Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, 1994) is being conducted to determine the fetal characteristics using advanced technology before conception and birth.

As per the PCPNDT Act (Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act) of 1994, there are 8,922 government and private scan centers registered. Out of these, 2,059 are functioning in Chennai alone. At the time this government assumed office, the child sex ratio was 931 female children for every 1,000 male children. Due to several proactive initiatives by this government—such as reducing infant mortality rate and increasing child survival rate—this ratio has improved to 940 female children. The goal of this government is to achieve gender parity, i.e., an equal number of female and male children. This training camp is being held to help stakeholders understand and implement the provisions of this Act effectively.

Moreover, the PCPNDT online portal was also launched today. Through this portal, all processes such as new applications, updates, compulsory reporting, addition/removal of doctors and scan machines—which were previously done manually—will now be done entirely online. Furthermore, the private doctors and scan centers will be aligned with the government, and clear communication will be established to help them understand how to comply with the law without confusion. The government has issued appropriate guidelines to ensure this. The medical professionals working in both private and government institutions will now have a comprehensive understanding of the procedures they must follow, ensuring clarity and adherence to legal provisions. This initiative is rooted in the vision that mothers who give life should also live, and therefore, it has been launched with utmost commitment.

COVID-19 Update

The COVID-19 pandemic, declared a global public health emergency in 2020 by the World Health Organization, severely affected the global population. Due to the government’s efficient public health systems, awareness campaigns, and aggressive vaccination drives, the COVID-19 outbreak has been contained and now appears only as a low-intensity endemic. On May 5, 2023, the World Health Organization officially announced that COVID-19 is no longer a global public health emergency.

According to the weekly disease surveillance report issued by WHO on 04.05.2025, countries such as India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Thailand have reported significantly low numbers of COVID-19 community transmission cases. Additionally, only weakened sub-lineages of the Omicron variant, such as JN.1 and XEC, have been detected. No new, mutated variants have been identified.

Globally, 91,583 COVID cases have been reported. In India, there have been 1,800 cases. In Tamil Nadu, 293 cases were reported this month, and 148 people are under home surveillance. The COVID-19 spread is currently at a very low level in the community, and the infected individuals are not showing any severe symptoms.

This year in Tamil Nadu, one person with co-morbidities has died due to COVID-19. In April 2025, 26 samples from the reported COVID cases were sent from authorized COVID labs to the State Public Health Laboratory for genome sequencing. Among them, 19 samples were sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune. It was confirmed that only known Omicron sub-variants (JN.1, LF.7, NB.1.8.1, MV.1, BA.3) are circulating in Tamil Nadu. No new variant has been found.

The Department of Health and Family Welfare is closely monitoring COVID-19 cases on a daily basis. All district government medical colleges and hospitals have been instructed to remain prepared with preventive infrastructure, including isolation facilities, manpower, medicines, and lab readiness.

Across Tamil Nadu, 99,425 beds are in readiness to treat COVID-19 patients. In crowded public places, wearing masks, practicing proper cough/sneeze hygiene, and maintaining cleanliness are essential. Individuals with symptoms like fever or respiratory issues—especially those with existing conditions—should approach the nearest hospital for appropriate treatment.