The Indian Radiological and Imaging Association (IRIA) has elected to postpone its ultrasound strike for three months to give the government time to address its demands regarding a law aimed at reducing gender-specific feticide.
After initially suspending ultrasound services nationwide on September 2, the IRIA said it decided to defer the strike for three months as of September 3, according to a statement on the group's website. It will keep pursuing its issues by meeting with the officials of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, per their assurance that that the amendments and changes to the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC & PNDT) Act would be made within the stipulated period of two to three months, the IRIA said.
The IRIA is seeking a number of changes to the legislation, including a graded approach to punishment for infractions such as not wearing an apron or minor clerical errors.
"If there is no positive development from the Central Supervisory Board and Health Ministry, we shall continue our agitation," the IRIA said. "We must continue our united endeavor to achieve our target and we hope that this unity will lead to the changes in [the] PC & PNDT Act itself as we continue to put pressure on both houses of Parliament."
