Satyamev Jayate News

This week’s episode highlighted the prevailing conditions in various villages across the country where water had become the difference between life and death. To drive home the point, women in many of our villages have to walk approximately 1400 km to fetch water. Many parts of the country run dry due to the scarcity of water and the regions that have sufficient water resources have to deal with polluted water sources.

The show went on to put forth some shocking facts on the way our water resources are being neglected and why urgent steps need to be taken to save our rivers and other water bodies. The show also highlighted the measures taken by some citizens to conserve water and rainwater harvesting was touted as a highly effective means to conserve water.

In the past 12 episodes, Satyamev Jayate has attempted to bring to the table a number of issues that have plagued our society and has inspired people to take notice and bring about a change. Here are a few impact stories on female foeticide we would like to share with you this week.

Expressing concern over the “alarming decline” in Jammu and Kashmir’s sex ratio – 883 females per 1,000 males – a minister said the government will continue to crackdown on illegal sex determination clinics. Health Minister Sham Lal Sharma said that his department was taking steps to strengthening measures to balance the sex ratio. Sharma said: “One of the main steps required to curb the menace is to stop illegal sex determination in various ultrasonography (USG) centers across the state. For this government has enhanced the reward for the whistleblowers providing information about such activities from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000.” The health minister said this while chairing a thematic workshop on public private partnership to restore gender balance Sunday as told to HealthIndia.com

Secondly, the central government has hiked the registration rates for ultrasound centres from Rs 3,000 to Rs 25,000 and from Rs 4,000 to Rs 35,000. The Indian Radiological and Imaging Association (IRIA) took umbrage to the hike and termed it arbitrary. National president of Indian Radiological and Imaging Association (IRIA) Dr Harsh Mahajan said, “Such an exorbitant increase in charges will either encourage non-registration of medical centres or lead to an increase in ultrasound charges since clinics will be forced to recover these costs from patients. Higher charges will again hurt poor patients, leading to lower number of tests as well as higher death and disease rates.” Stated HealthIndia.com

To conclude, water is the most vital thing next to air and the days are not far where we would have to pay through our nose for something that is available in abundance today. What do you think can be done to save our dying rivers and tackle our water woes? What has been the impact of this week’s episode on water and what is India’s opinion on the current state of affairs. Join Aamir Khan on ASAR at ABP News Live, tonight at 8PM to find out. You can also follow us on Twitter @smjindia and be a part of the #SatyamevJayate conversation.