New programme will be announced to curb cesarean deliveries: K'taka Health Min. Dinesh Gundu Rao
Belagavi (Karnataka), Dec 16: Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said on Monday that a new programme will be launched next month to control caesarean deliveries in the state.
Responding to a question raised by MLC Jagdeva Guttedar in the Legislative Council, the Minister acknowledged that the rate of cesarean deliveries in the state has been increasing annually.
"... the caesarean delivery rate, which was 35 per cent in 2021-2022, increased to 38 per cent in 2022-23. Currently, the caesarean rate in the state is 46 per cent. We have taken this seriously and are taking measures to control them," Rao said.
He noted that in private hospitals, over 61 per cent of deliveries are caesarean, driven by the fact that caesarean sections generate more income and are easier to perform.
"It is essential to curb this for the health of both the mother and the child. Women need to be mentally and physically prepared for a natural birth. We are formulating a new programme, which will be announced next month. Some private hospitals are performing up to 80-90 per cent caesarean deliveries," he added.
Rao, responding to another question, said eight cases have been registered in the state since 2023-24, and 46 people have been arrested in connection with foeticide.
A large number of foeticide cases have been detected due to increased inspections of scanning centers and hospitals in the state. Action is being taken against those involved in foeticide through successful decoy operations, he said.
To prevent foeticide in the state, the government has established all statutory committees under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act at the state and district levels, the Minister said. Since 2018, all scanning centers in the state have been required to register and renew through the ‘Balika’ software.
He said that 100 per cent registration of pregnant women is underway at the state level, and information technology is being used to monitor sex ratio data at the village level.
Pointing out that 136 cases have been registered in the state against scanning centers, owners, or doctors for violating the PCPNDT Act, Rao said 74 persons have been fined and acquitted, while 65 cases are still pending in court at various stages.
He said the Karnataka government has increased the reward for informers who provide information about scanning centers, hospitals, doctors, brokers, or relatives involved in detecting and killing female foetuses, helping in filing a case, from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh.
The rate of cesarean deliveries in the state has been increasing every year. From 35% in 2021-2022, it rose to 38% in 2022-2023, and currently, the cesarean delivery rate stands at 46%. To safeguard the health of mothers and newborns, there is an urgent need to regulate cesarean… https://t.co/y3GKI3jMMU
— Dinesh Gundu Rao/ದಿನೇಶ್ ಗುಂಡೂರಾವ್ (@dineshgrao) December 16, 2024
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'Homebound' makes it to Oscar shortlist for best international feature
Mumbai (PTI): Neeraj Ghaywan's much acclaimed "Homebound" is among the 15 films shortlisted in the best international feature category at the Oscars, moving a step close to the final five nominations and maybe a win.
The movie, inspired by a true story that became the basis of a news article during the pandemic, has been creating a global buzz since its debut in the Un Certain Regard category at the Cannes Film Festival this May.
Hollywood legend Martin Scorsese is a fan and has come onboard as an executive producer ahead of the award season.
Produced by Karan Johar and Adar Poonawalla, and starring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor, "Homebound" is Ghaywan's second movie after "Masaan".
"Homebound" will compete for an Oscar nomination alongside Argentina's “Belén”, Brazil's “The Secret Agent”, French drama "It Was Just an Accident”, Germany's "Sound of Falling” and Iraq's "The President's Cake".
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The other movies in the shortlist include Japan's “Kokuho”, Jordan's “All That’s Left of You”, Norway's “Sentimental Value”, Palestine's “Palestine 36”, South Korean hit “No Other Choice”, Spain's “Sirat”, "Late Shift" from Switzerland, “Left-Handed Girl”from Taiwan and Tunisian drama “The Voice of Hind Rajab”, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced in a release on Tuesday.
The award for best foreign film, now re-categorised as best international feature, has so far eluded India.
Only three Indian films have received nominations in the category -- Mehmood Khan’s “Mother India”, Mira Nair’s “Salaam Bombay” and Ashutosh Gowarikar’s “Lagaan”. Deepa Mehta’s “Water”, starring John Abraham and Lisa Ray, also received a nomination but it was submitted from Canada.
Gujarati film "Chhello Show" in 2023 was the last film to get shortlisted.
Costume designer Bhanu Athaiya was the first Indian to get an Oscar, bagging the coveted prize in 1983 for the film "Gandhi". Other than her, A R Rahman, Resul Pukootty and M M Keeravani have also won individual Oscars.
Team "Homebound" celebrated the shortlist news with posts on social media.
"We made the shortlist... Way to go team Homebound'!" Johar shared in Instagram Stories.
In a post, the producer said it was difficult for him to articulate how "proud and elated" he was with the news.
"All of us @dharmamovies are privileged to have this proud and important film in our filmography... thank you @neeraj.ghaywan for making so many dreams of ours come true... from Cannes to being on the Oscar shortlist this has been such an overwhelming journey! Love to the entire cast and crew and teams of this special special film! Upwards and onwards...."
Ghaywan also shared the news on X.
"#Homebound has been shortlisted for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards! We are deeply grateful for the extraordinary love and support we've received from around the world," he wrote on X with a special poster of the film.
Jethwa, who plays one of the two friends in the story opposite Ishaan Khatter, said the moment feels "surreal and incredibly humbling".
"To see 'Homebound' being shortlisted and progressing towards the Oscars is something I could have only dreamed of. I am deeply grateful for the love and support the film has received from audiences around the world," he said as he acknowledged Johar, Ghaywan and co-star Khatter and the rest of the team.
Khatter also shared the news on his Instagram stories and wrote, "Oscar ab dur nahi".
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"Homebound" is inspired by journalist Basharat Peer's The New York Times article “Taking Amrit Home”, also titled "A Friendship, a Pandemic and a Death Beside the Highway".
The film portrays the childhood friendship between a Muslim and Dalit who chase a police job that promises them the dignity they have long been denied due to their surnames.
The Academy on Tuesday also announced shortlists in 11 other categories, including the newly added casting Oscars, animated shorts, cinematography, documentary feature, documentary short, original score and song, sound and visual effects categories.
Nominations for the 98th Academy Awards will be announced on Thursday, January 22, 2026.
Twenty-four categories will be awarded at the 98th Oscars. Each category has five nominees, except for best picture, which has 10.
The 98th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
