Even with overall rise in state, child sex ratio declines in four districts

Rajasthan was in news in 2011 census due to drastic fall child sex ratio (CSR) from 909 in 2001 to 888 per 1,000 boys in 2011, but now until 2017-18, the CSR has improved to 922 per 1,000 boys.

Although, the CSR increased by 34 points in the state, but there are few districts where it has further declined compared to 2011, recent data has revealed.

The state health department data of CSR shows that between 2012-13 and 2017-18 (until January 2018) the CSR is minus 22 in Dungarpur, minus 12 in Udaipur, minus four in Bhilwara and Pratapgarh, while in Kota, it has increased by a point compared to the CSR in the 2011 Census.

As per 2011 Census, the CSR in Dungarpur was 922, which in 2017-18 went down to 900, in Udaipur it was 924, which declined to 912 while in Pratapgarh and Bhilwara it was 928 and 933 respectively, which plummeted to 924 and 929.

In Kota, the CSR was 899 in 2011 Census, which increased to 900 in 2017-18.

Social activist Rajan Choudhary said the state pre-conception and pre-natal diagnostic technique (PCPNDT) cell was keeping vigil on districts that had CSR less than 900 in 2011 Census.

In four districts, the CSR was more than 900, higher than the state average of 888, he said.

The CSR in Bhilwara, Dungarpur, Pratapgarh and Udaipur in 2011 Census was 928, 922, 933 and 924 girls per 1,000 boys.

“The informer system in the districts has to be strengthened along with the health department and integrated child development scheme for woman.

Beside the child development department working in convergence should make auxiliary nursing midwives and anganwari workers to create awareness among women, especially mother of two girls about sex determination being illegal and keep a watch on people involved in sex determination,” he said.

National Health Mission chief Naveen Jain agrees, saying that the districts not faring well in CSR.

“The mindset of people has to be changed to enforce the PCPDNT Act and people made more aware. Through decoy operations, we are trying to minimize sex determination tests and also creating awareness,” he said.

He further said that with enforcement of the PCPNDT Act, sex determination and female foeticide could be controlled to a very little extent.

“To create awareness among the people, especially youngsters, the ‘Daughters are Precious’ programme was launched on September 23, 2016,” he said.

“Under the programme, dialogue with students at universities, colleges, higher secondary schools along with medical, technical, nursing and management institutions were being held. Strong messages were given against sex determination and female foeticide through Power Point presentations and video clips.”

In November 2017, events were organized at 773 centres across 33 districts of the state in which more than 850 volunteers known as daughters are precious, held direct dialogue with 1.58 lakh youngsters, he said.

“Similarly, on January 24, 11.51 lakh youngsters were given the message about the programme at more than 6,200 educational institutions across the state to create awareness,” he said.

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