India, March 24 -- In a first-of-its-kind move meant to curb sex determination and female foeticide, the state government will begin monitoring and follow-up of pregnant women who have one or more living female children (daughters) till such time they give birth to the child; officials said on Monday.

The decision has been taken as existing enforcement measures under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994 (amended in 2003) have not proved adequate to prevent sex determination and female foeticide. The public health department has recently issued guidelines to all local bodies in the state, and the initiative will soon be implemented across Maharashtra, officials said.

As per the data provided by the pu...