On the occasion of world population day on July 11th, about 250 Mumbaikars took a pledge saying, no to sex determination, to involve their family and friends in the national campaign against sex selection and sex determination and to act in case they find a doctor conducting such tests. Center for Enquiry into Health and Allied Themes (CEHAT), had organized the public event, at the KC College Hall, at Churchgate, Mumbai.

The event started with panel discussion by noted film director Mahesh Bhatt, Well- known journalist Nikhil Wagle, Dr Bal Inamdar and Secretary State Women's Commission Mrs Thekekarra. Mr Bhatt, was reminded of ' Tikku' the hijra in his award winning film ' Tamanna' , he said that even a hijra picked up a girl child from a dust bin and bought her up without any discrimination. But today the son preference had increased so markedly that we all so called normal human beings are worst than a hijra who eliminate the girl child through sex- selection and sex determination. Mahesh Bhatt said he is a proud father of three daughters and a son, and his daughters including Pooja Bhatt are much ahead than his son. He has never discriminated amongst his children and for him daughters are much ahead of sons in all fields. It is a shame that today on 21st century we are still talking about women's rights. India has made a great progress in the virtual world but was far far behind in the REAL WORLD, where there was still no respect for women. Mahesh Bhatt said that organization like CEHAT should be approached for taking legal action against the erring doctors who perform sex selection and sex determination.

Nikhil Wagle, said that it was a shame that no one knew of the World Population Day July 11th and media was busy covering the sensex and share bazaar. Emphasizing the importance of media he said that Media had a major role to play in the awareness campaign against sex- selection and sex-determination. The Public interest litigation filed by CEHAT, MASUM, two NGOS and Sabu George in 2000 bore fruit in 2003 when the Supreme Court gave the strict orders for implementation of the PNDT Act. He strongly felt that this issue should be in the agenda of the political parties and that Secretary State Women's Commission, Mrs Thekkekara said that to day in the age if television and media, awareness on the issue was quite low. The state commission had taken to task Ekta Kapoor's serial 'kyonki saas bhi kabhi bahu thi', in which they had shown the sex determination, which gave a very wrong signal to people. The serial has apologized and has telecast an advertisement in the connection. She appealed that anyone who comes to know about such tests being performed should report it to CEHAT or the women's commission so that necessary actions can be taken.

Dr Bal Inamdar, a gynecologist said that if doctors start acting ethically the problem will not be there. As the tests are performed by the medical professionals and a stop has to be put it. He was of the opinion that after the implementation of the Act, the percentage of doctors conducting sex selection and sex determination had reduced considerably.

After the panel discussion, 15 year old Afroze Banu Khan, from the slums of Antop Hill in Mumbai, the SSC night school topper among girls was felicitated by Coordinator of CEHAT Ravi Duggal. Afroze said that she had started going to Rizvi College, in Mumbai as her fees has been waived off and wanted to become a doctor. Her father who is a taxi driver said that he had four sons and two daughters, taking Afroze as an example the other children had also started showing interest in studies. He said, he will make Afroze doctor and marriage had taken a back seat for now.

The Union Minister for sports and youth welfare Mr Sunil Dutt had been invited for the function, but he could not come as Delhi was having a function on that as well. He had sent a message to CEHAT for taking up the cause.

After this felicitation there was a presentation by Ravi, Qudisya and Kamayani on myths and facts of population control, the campaign against sex selection and the law against it .

Thereafter there was a Hindi Play written and directed by Jyoti Mhapsekar of Stree Mukti Sanghathna. All the actors are the activists of the organization and performers as well.

" Beti Aayi hai'. The one-hour play touched upon various issues of violence against women, sex selection, sex- determination, illiteracy, dowry, unemployment and gender discrimination.

Besides Mumbai, two events were held in two districts of Maharashtra.

Satara- Dalit Mahila Vikas Mandal- our network partner

· Rally where girl students from class 8th to 10th from different schools in Satara participated. The rally of about 200 people along with schoolgirls raised slogans against sex -selection and sex determination.

They also went to the Government Hospital and Wards, and gave away information of the illegality of sex selection.

Chiplun- Samwad- our network partner

· Meeting with SHG women for which Sarpanch was also called, and a Memorandum for ban on prenatal sex determination was prepared which was signed by all women in SHG. About 80 women participated in the meeting.

The memorandum was signed and submitted to the Civil Surgeon, the appropriate authority of the area.