Question : DECLINE IN THE SEX RATIO

(a) whether the sex ratio is declining continuously in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise alongwith the reasons therefor;

(c) the details of the institutional birth and non-institutional birth in metropolitan city;

(d) whether the Government propose to give incentives on the birth of girl child to bridge the gap in sex ratio;

(e) if so, the details thereof;

(f) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to maintain the sex ratio and to implement strictly the law relating to female foeticide;

(g) whether the Government has launched programme under Rural Health Mission aimed at correcting such gender inequalities; and

(h) if so, the details and the outcome there?

THE MINISTER OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE(SHRI GHULAM NABI AZAD)

(a) & (b) Data on sex ratio at birth based on the three-yearly moving average is available from the Sample Registration System (SRS) data. As per the information received from the Registrar General of India (RGI), the sex ratio at birth for India for the periods 2004-06, 2005-07 and 2006-08 is 892, 901 and 904 respectively. State wise details are at Annexed.

The major reasons for skewed sex ratio include sex selection followed by female foeticide, female infanticide, early childhood neglect the girl child, son preference, dowry, insecurity and certain Socio cultural belief and practices.

(c) Metropolitan city-wise information is not maintained centrally.

(d) & (e) Ministry of Women and Child Development is implementing the ‘Dhanalakshmi’ scheme as a pilot programme to provide a set of staggered financial incentives for families to encourage them to retain the girl child. The Ministry of Women and Child Development declared January 24th as a National Girl Child Day to bring to centre-stage the problems faced by the girl child and create national awareness on the same.

(f) The step taken by the Government under PC&PNDT Act, 1994 include constitution of a National Inspection & Monitoring Committee (NIMC), awareness on the issue through various IEC mechanisms, sensitizing stake holders including the judiciary and public prosecutors, holding of workshops/seminars and community awareness through auxiliary Nursing Midwife (ANM) and Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA), as well as facility for on-line filing of Form ‘F’ by clinics.

(g) No

(h) Does not arise.