The Centre has sought reports from the Madhya Pradesh government on alleged sex-change surgeries on baby girls being conducted at several clinics in Indore.
"We have sought a report from the state. Action will follow only after getting the report," Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said in reply to a question.
He, however, said the "matter is not as serious as made out to be".
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has also asked the state government to conduct a probe into the issue.
The NCPCR has asked the state government to submit within 15 days a detailed report, providing all facts, figures and circumstances of the case.
According to a newspaper report, several hospitals in Indore are carrying out hundreds of such operations on baby girls every year.
The procedure, known as genitoplasty, costs around Rs 1.5 lakh and is performed on children just above five years.
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