Child sex ratio: Karnal goes past 930 mark

Parveen Arora

Tribune News Service

Karnal, August 10

Karnal has witnessed a significant increase in the child sex ratio with more than 930 girls against 1,000 boys.

As per the Civil Registration System, the sex ratio in the district was 933 till July, while it was 909 in 2016, 897 in 2015, 886 in 2014, 881 in 2013, 847 in 2012, 849 in 2011 and 834 in 2010.

The data shows that the mindset of people has changed a lot towards the girl child in the last seven years due to several initiatives undertaken by the state government and the Centre.

The sex ratio has increased considerably, but a lot needs to be done in several areas of the district. The data reveals that the sex ration in several areas under Assandh, Indri and Nissing Community Health Centres (CHCs) is more than 1,000 during the last seven month, while areas under Jalmana, Barsat, Gagsina, Kutail, Kachwa, Kunjpura, Nigdhu and Sagga Primary Health Centres (PHCs) also witnessed child sex ratio more than 1,000 during this period.

The data shows low sex ratio in the areas under Khukni, Barota, Sambhli and Ballah PHCs and Nilokheri and Gharaunda CHCs.

“There are 127 registered ultrasound centres in the district, of which 75 are in working condition, while 52 are non-operational,” said Yogesh Kumar, Civil Surgeon.

With efforts of the department, 12 persons had been convicted by the court so far for violation of the PCPNDT Act, he said.

He said that Karnal was among the 100 districts of the country having low sex ratio, but the department left no stone unturned and made efforts to educate residents and also kept a check on violators of the PCPNDT Act.

“We have identified villages with low sex ratio and health workers have been asked to keep a vigil on these villages to find out the reasons behind it,” he said.

“The district administration has also constituted a district-level task force which holds meetings to review the situation and it also educates people about the alarming situation,” he said.

With the help of Asha, anganwari and health workers, the department had been making efforts to make residents aware about the programmes being carried out by the department to promote the birth of a girl child, he said, and added that they were also guiding pregnant women about the nutritional food to curb malnutrition problems.

“We are also ensuring that the newborn child gets complete immunisation so that the infant death could be reduced,” he said.