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dna exclusive: Maha achievement - Sex ratio improves

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Indicating that the state’s strategy of cracking down on sex determination and female foeticide may have paid off, Maharashtra has shown a healthy rise in the month-wise sex ratio at birth in the current year as compared to previous years.

As per state health department’s figures, in April 2013, the number of girls per 1,000 boys at birth was 909 compared to 895 in April 2012 and 858 in April 2011. In May, this was 908 compared to 883 and 873 and in June, it was 921 versus 893 in June 2012 and 868 in June 2011. July saw 921 as against 910 in July 2012 and 880 in the year before that.

In 2012, the month-wise sex ratio at birth was higher in all months than that in 2011.

Maharashtra’s general sex ratio declined, from 934 in 1991 to 922 in 2001, but marginally rose in 2011, to 925. In contrast, India’s sex ratio has seen an increase from 927 in 2001 to 933 in 2011 and 940 in 2011.

The state’s child sex ratio has fallen from 946 in 1991 to 913 in 2001 and 883 in 2011. Shockingly, the department’s estimates, considering the average expected sex ratio of 952 and the child sex ratio (approximate population of girls between zero to six years) of 883 in the 2011 census, indicate that Maharashtra may have seen around 4,68,680 female foeticide cases between 2001 and 2011, including 30,116 in Mumbai.

State health department officials said these healthier figures were indicative of the results of the stringent implementation of the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1994.

Social activist Manisha Tokale of the Savitribai Phule Mahila Mandal in Beed said the rise in these figures was because of the crackdown on sex determination and female foeticide. “The action against errant doctors in the previous years... and sonography centres falling in line due to this are reflected in the rise in these figures,” she added.

Tokale, however, said misogyny and son preference also led to domestic violence against women for bearing girls. “People’s mentality hasn’t yet changed,” she rued.

Cracking down
The state conducts inspections of the 6,658 sonography and 5,026 MTP centres. It has conducted around 35 successful sting operations and lodged around 500 cases for violations like non-registration and non-maintenance of records. It has a toll free number 18002334475 and website www.amchimulgi.gov.in to register complaints.

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