Maharashtra's Food and Drug Administration will watch closely the sale of drugs and medicines related to medical termination of pregnancy (MTP) or abortion in Beed and other districts, where the rate of female foeticide is pretty high, according to a DNA report. Action against 15 medical stores and distributors in Beed has been initiated and cases against some of them have been lodged, noted the report. 
FDA officials have been directed to monitor the sale of the drugs and take strict action against chemists and dealers found with excessive sale. Teams comprising inspectors and commissioners from FDA have been deputed in Beed, which is the hit district, to ensure that drugs are not supplied for illegal operations of termination of pregnancy.
Satej Patil, Minister of state for FDA, Government of Maharashtra said: "FIRs against three medical stores in Beed have been registered, while twelve others have been served with show cause notices. What is more, we are also
recommending a ban on the advertisements of abortion pills that are unreasonable. We will keep a special vigil in the worst affected districts, including all the districts in Marathwada".
Stating that the government was contemplating on stepping up the awareness campaign among the youth about the pitfalls of abortion, the Minister added that the heads of the villages would be directed to attend wedding ceremonies and preach the couple about the importance of girls in society.
