Mandatory ID cards for ultrasound puts pregnant women in quandary

Mangaluru, 04 Apr 2018 [Fik/News Sources]: Pregnant women in Dakshina Kannada are feeling the heat following a new rule by the government making identity cards mandatory to undergo ultrasound.

According to a newspaper report, pregnant women unaware of the new rule who arrive in the city from distant places such as Belthangady, Subramanya are returning home after being sent back by the scanning centres, failing to produce any identity cards such as Aadhaar, PAN, driving licence, ration card or Thayi card.

Dr Ramakrishna Rao, district health and family welfare officer was quoted by a newspaper that the pregnant women are indeed facing problems due to the new rule. "Lack of awareness in the district especially among the women from rural area is the prime reason," he added. He further said that awareness programs are organised in this regard.

One of the employees at a scanning centre in Mangaluru said that the identity cards were compulsory to avail various benefits such as Janani Suraksha Yojana and other of facilities by the state and the central governments.

But contrary to his statement, it is reported that those women who do not avail benefits of the government too are supposed to furnish their identity cards. The officials at the scanning centre say that all the women arriving for scanning are required to have an identity card since they need identity for customary scans to document the total number of women scanned and the reason, and also the location.

It may be recalled that the government introduced a new rule with effect from March 1, which makes identity cards such as Aadhaar, PAN, driving licence, ration card or Thayi card mandatory to undergo scanning.