Thursday, August 22, 2013

Sex Ratio

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.
  

Annexure
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