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 annexed.
The Government has been exhorting the States and UTs to pay utmost attention for effective implementation of theprovisions 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:-
Rs. in Lakh
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.
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.
State/UT-wise details of sex ratio
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
|
