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 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:-

 

Rs. in Lakh

 

* 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 21^st 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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

BN/HB