Distinction in travel journalism
Is independent travel journalism important to you?
Click here to keep it independent

23 Aug, 2013

India Sees Improved Male:Female Sex Ratio

=========

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 21-August, 2013 – The Sex Ratio in the country has shown an improvement. As per the Census, sex ratio has increased from 933 females per thousand males in 2001 to 943 females per thousand males in 2011. State/UT-wise details of sex ratio are listed below.

The Government has been exhorting the States and UTs to pay utmost attention for effective implementation of the provisions of the Pre-Conception & Pre-Natal Diagnostic Technique (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994. Recently, on 18.05.2013, the Union Health Minister requested all the Chief Ministers of States and Lt. Governors/ Administrators of UTs, to ensure effective implementation of the provisions of the Act.

The Union Health Secretary has also urged the Chief Secretaries and Secretaries (Health & FW) of all States/ UTs, to establish mechanism for monitoring and to take deterrent follow up action for effective implementation of the PC & PNDT Act. In response to these initiatives, State/UT Governments while reaffirming commitment towards strict compliance of the provisions of the Act, have taken a number of initiatives in this direction.

Government has provided funds to the States & UTs for implementation of the Act. Setting up of PNDT cells to monitor implementation of the Act, is one of the activities for which funds are provided to the States/UTs. Details of funds allocated/released and utilized for PNDT activities during each of the last three years are as under:-

Financial year

Allocation

Utilisation

2010-11

11417.44*

733.98

2011-12

1411.20

597.58

2012-13

1984.97

1078.84

 * Allocation includes Innovations/Public Private Partnership/Non-Governmental Organisation of PC & PNDT.

The Government has adopted a multi-pronged strategy devising schemes, programmes and awareness generation/advocacy measures to build a positive environment for the girl child through gender sensitive policies, provisions and legislation.

The measures include the following:-

·   The Government has intensified effective implementation of the said Act and amended various provisions of the Rules relating to sealing, seizure and confiscation of unregistered machines and punishment against unregistered clinics. Regulation of use of portable ultrasound equipment only within the registered premises has been notified. Restriction on medical practitioners to conduct ultrasonography at maximum of two ultrasound facilities within a district has been placed. Registration fees have been enhanced. Rules have been amended to provide for advance intimation in change in employees, place, address or equipment.

·  The Central Supervisory Board (CSB) under the PNDT Act has been reconstituted and regular meetings are being held. The 21st meeting of the CSB has recently been held on 23.07.2013.

·  The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology has been requested to block sex selection advertisements on websites.

·  The National Inspection and Monitoring Committee (NIMC) has been reconstituted and inspections of ultrasound diagnostic facilities have been intensified. Inspections have been carried out in many States including Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka.

·  The Government is rendering financial support to the States and UTs for operationalisation of PNDT Cells, Capacity Building, Orientation & Sensitisation Workshop, Information, Education and Communication campaigns and for strengthening structures for the implementation of the Act under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).

·   States have been advised to focus on Districts/Blocks/Villages with low Child Sex Ratio to ascertain the causes, plan appropriate behaviour change communication campaigns and effectively implement provisions of the PC & PNDT Act.

·  Religious leaders, women achievers etc. are also being involved in the campaign against skewed child sex ratio and discrimination of the girl child.

India’s Male:Female Sex Ratio by State/UTs (females / 1,000 males)

Sl. No.

State/UTs

2001

2011

 

India

933

943

1

Jammu & Kashmir

892

889

2

Himachal Pradesh

968

972

3

Punjab

876

895

4

Chandigarh

777

818

5

Uttarakhand

962

963

6

Haryana

861

879

7

Delhi

821

868

8

Rajasthan

921

928

9

Uttar Pradesh

898

912

10

Bihar

919

918

11

Sikkim

875

890

12

Arunachal Pradesh

893

938

13

Nagaland

900

931

14

Manipur

978

992

15

Mizoram

935

976

16

Tripura

948

960

17

Meghalaya

972

989

18

Assam

935

958

19

West Bengal

934

950

20

Jharkhand

941

949

21

Odisha

972

979

22

Chhattisgarh

989

991

23

Madhya Pradesh

919

931

24

Gujarat

920

919

25

Daman & Diu

710

618

26

Dadra & Nagar Haveli

812

774

27

Maharashtra

922

929

28

Andhra Pradesh

978

993

29

Karnataka

965

973

30

Goa

961

973

31

Lakshadweep

948

947

32

Kerala

1059

1084

33

Tamil Nadu

987

996

34

Puducherry

1001

1037

35

Andaman & Nicobar Islands

846

876

This information was given by Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare Mr GhulamNabi Azad in written reply to a question in the LokSabha yesterday.