Mumbai: Nearly 35% of drug retailers andwholesalersin the state were found flouting norms claims the Food and Drug Administration, which launched a crackdown following cases of female foeticide in Beed.

Out of the 954 retailers and wholesalers inspected in the last six days, 340 were served show-cause notices for irregularities in maintaining records and selling abortion drugs without a prescription. Eightyeight chemists in the Konkan region were served show-cause notices. Sixty-five chemists in Pune, 50 in Amravati, 46 in Aurangabad and 29 in Mumbai received notices.

"Our drive exposed how many chemistswere notfollowing any norms. The law stipulates that chemists have to document the contact details of doctors and patients," saidFDA commissioner MaheshZagade. There are 76,000 such establishments in the state. FIRs have been filed against five chemists in Beed and one in Aurangabad. "We are in the process of lodging more FIRs against two dealers in Amravati and one in Jalgaon," saidZagade.

"A dealer in Pune, Great India Pharmaceuticals, sold around 12,490 tablets to a retailer whowasoperating without a licence," he added. "Records of 96 doctors who directly purchased medicines have been inspected," said an official.

‘Reward parents with 2nd girl child’ M ayor Sunil Prabhu asked the state government have give incentives to parents who have a second girl child. Prabhu wants NGOs to help the civic body to raise awareness on female foeticide. TNN