Sustained efforts by the state government and the civic body over the past year to highlight the menace of female foeticide seem to have come to a naught as the child sex ratio in the city for 2011 has fallen compared to 2010
Sustained efforts by the state government and the civic body over the past year to highlight the menace of female foeticide seem to have come to a naught as the child sex ratio in the city for 2011 has fallen compared to 2010. Provisional figures available with civic officials say the ratio for 2011 is 917 girls per 1,000 boys — down from 919 girls per 1,000 boys last year.
“We are finalising the data on child sex ratio for 2011. The provisional figures do not show any improvement,” said a senior official from the BMC’s health department.
After the state and the city recorded a dismal child sex ratio for 2010 as per the Census report, the government machinery swung into action and launched a campaign against female foeticides. Websites were launched and helplines were created to report illegal activities. While NGOs and civil society members put pressure on the government through RTI queries, spot reports kept officials on their toes. The BMC’s family welfare department seized 37 sonography machines in 2011 compared to just nine in 2010.
Officials are clueless why its efforts do not reflect in the ratio. “We are doing our best to improve the child sex ratio. We conduct regular meetings with doctors and organise awareness programmes as well. We have also intensified raids on sonography machines and have gone online for their registrations,” said Dr Asha Advani, special officer at the BMC’s family welfare department.
The Maharashtra Medical Council, too, suspended the registrations of five medical practitioners who conducted sex determination tests. This was the first time since the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of sex selection) Act came into force in 1994 that action was taken against errant doctors.
“We have created fear in the minds of people about sex determination tests. The results will be visible only after some time,” said an official from the health department.
Experts feel unless the mindset of the people towards the girl child changes, the child sex ratio will not improve. “Families with preference for the boy-child are finding out new ways to eliminate the girl child. Couples from wealthy families find going to Dubai or Singapore and Bangkok for sex determination tests an affordable option. Details are easily available on websites too. When we refuse to accede to their wrong demands, they pinpoint such other alternatives,” said a prominent gynaecologist from the city.
Families without a male ‘heir’, even opt for In vitro fertilisation (IVF). “We have been getting couples from rich families asking for a boy child. Most of these families have a business background and already have a girl child. But they want a boy to run their family business,” an IVF expert said.
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