Panvel’s dismal child sex ratio alarms city activists

Even as Cidco has planned the ambitious South Navi Mumbai smart city in the region, and it is being recognised as an educational hub, Panvel is lagging far behind in terms of girl child birth, not just in the region, but the country.

It ranks 8th among cities with the lowest child sex ratio in the country with a shocking figure of just 820 girls for every 1,000 boy born in Cidco jurisdiction Panvel area.

The region is all set to get an international airport. It is also in the news for its metro and other mega projects. Even as the Centre’s smart city project is to take off, Cidco managing director Sanjay Bhatia announced South Navi Mumbai project, the first smart city project in the country which was launched with much fanfare by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.

The region is going to witness investment of over Rs50,000 crore in the next five years and Cidco will invest around Rs38,000 crore.

While on the one hand, there is talk of a smart city, on the ground, the situation is different. The figures seem to indicate that the planned region is not receptive to the idea of the girl child.

As per the 2011 census, the population of Cidco jurisdiction area in Panvel is 1,95,373. Literacy rate was 89.10%. However, the figures of girlboy ratio show a dismal 820. The state average is 929. Even Raigad region in which Panvel falls has 959.

Several talukas in Raigad district have satisfactory figures as does the Panvel Municipal Council area.

Stressing on the need for awareness to save the girl child, social worker Khaleel Athavane said, “The low girl child ratio in Cidco area of Panvel is worrisome. The literacy level among men is around 96% while among women it is 91%. Despite the literacy rate being high, the ratio of girl child has been falling.”

He added, “Cidco, zilla parishad, social organisations, political leaders need to come together to push for ‘save the girl child’ campaign. Strong action should be taken against centres that provide details of the sex of the foetus. The functioning of the sonography centres needs to be verified.”