Haryana has witnessed a remarkable increase of 52 points in sex ratio at birth during last 5 Years. This increase is even higher than the target set under ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ guidelines of GOI.
PIB Haryana – Chandigarh, January 10: Haryana has set a new benchmark in Male Female sex ratio as the State has witnessed a remarkable increase of 52 points in sex ratio at birth during the last five years. As per the latest figures, the sex ratio of the State has increased from 871 girls for every 1,000 boys, in 2014 to 923 girls in 2019. Interestingly, the increase is even higher than the target set by the Government of India under ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ (B3P) Guidelines.
Sharing more details in this regard, Nodal Officer ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ program, Dr. Rakesh Gupta in a press conference said it is a matter of great pride that under the able guidance of Chief Minister, Mr. Manohar Lal, the State had gone up by leaps and bounds viz-a-viz the sex ratio. He shared that a total 5, 18,725 births were registered during 2019 which includes 2, 48,950 female births and 2, 69,775 male births.
He said that the majority of the districts which had a low sex ratio of below 900 for decades are now placed better with the sex ratio of 920+. Two districts namely Panchkula and Ambala has attained the distinction of being 950+ (963,959 respectively), an ideal sex ratio at birth as per Public Health experts. He said that after the implementation of B3P in the State, around 25,000 girls were saved from being killed during last 5 years through this campaign launched against female foeticide. This improvement in the sex ratio at birth is not limited only to certain districts, as the ratio has been increased overall throughout the State.
Dr. Rakesh Gupta further shared that Mahendragarh district of Haryana, which since decade was known to have the lowest sex ratio has also done wonders as the district gained a massive jump of 172 points to reach 917 in 2019, while, in 2014, the sex ratio of the district was even less than 800 (745). He said that in 2019, more than 2500 girls were saved in Mahendragarh district alone. He said that even the Government of India in its last Central Supervisory Board meeting held in Delhi under the chairmanship of Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr. Harsh Vardhan in October 2019, had appreciated Haryana Government’s efforts.
Effective implementation of B3P campaign
Dr. Rakesh Gupta informed that for showing outstanding results under B3P campaign, many of its districts of the State were facilitated on multiple occasions like ‘Girl Child Day’ by the Government of India since 2015. Prime Minister of India also appreciated the efforts of the State Government in this regard on many occasions.
He said that five years back in January 2015, when the Prime Minister had launched the B3P campaign from the historic city of Panipat, nobody could have ever imagined that as State like Haryana which was struggling from decades over this the issue could ever witness such improvement. However constant and dedicated efforts done by the State Government has finally bore fruit and still more has to be done in this direction.
He said that it was in January 2015, that Prime Minister of India started the massive nationwide campaign of ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ program from historical city Panipat and then the Haryana Chief Minister had accepted the campaign as a challenge to improve the sex ratio in the State to become an ideal State not only in the country but in the world.
Strict action against female foeticide and sex determination
Dr. Rakesh Gupta informed that strict action against female foeticide along with the several awareness programs were launched in all the districts. Apart from this, tightening the noose around the illegal sex detection/sex selection centres as well as illegal abortion centres running in Haryana and the neighboring states, sting operations, and surprise inspections were conducted and such illegal centers were sealed after registering the FIRs against such offenders under the PC-PNDT/MTP Act.
He said that during the last 5 years more than 730 FIRs were registered including 185 FIRs in neighbouring States of UP, Punjab, Delhi, Rajasthan and Uttrakhand and around 2000 culprits arrested in this crackdown against female foeticide. More than 200 prosecution cases under PC-PNDT Act are under trial in various courts against the offenders.
Apart from this the State Government also implemented ‘informer incentive scheme’ providing a reward of one lakh to the informer providing information about the sex determination in any part of State, which helped in exposing the gangs of criminals involved in this crime, Dr. Rakesh Gupta added. He said that in a bid to nab the criminals running illegal centers across the border, an exclusive concept of inter-state as well as inter-district raids in coordination with local authorities under PNDT/MTP Act was implemented in the State, which has shown positive results.
Dr. Rakesh Gupta said that the Chief Minister, Mr. Manohar Lal has assured that the commitment of the State Government to fight against female foeticide will continue with full vigour in the future and those involved in female foeticide will not be spared. He said that the Chief Minister has congratulated all the stakeholder departments, officers and staff of health, police, prosecution women and child development Food Drug Administration, civil societies and NGOs whose commitment and dedicated efforts has helped the State to achieve the good results of increasing the sex ratio graph and setting an example for the other states.
