RS members blame govt for lopsided sex ratio

New Delhi, May 19 (UNI) Rajya Sabha members today criticised the government for failing to check the rampant female foeticide, resulting in imbalanced sex ratio across the country.

Ms Brinda Karat of the CPI(M) said the enormity of crime must be realised by the government. The declining sex ratio is steep which could lead to disastrous social consequences.

She said the Central Supervisory Board, which operates under the ministry of health and family welfare, does not check the crime but acts only as a monitoring agency. This must change.

The rules of Medical Council of India (MCI) also need to be amended, said Mr Karat while speaking during calling attention motion. She said the MCI rules are contrary to rules framed by the Supreme Court which do not permit sex determination of an unborn child.

Ms Anusuiya Uikey of the BJP said there are 25,000 ultra-sound centres in the country which determine the sex of a foetus. Easy availability of sex determination tests and abortion facilities are prime reasons for the rising menace, she said.

Ms Uikey said the problem is acute in prosperous states like Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Gujarat.

Ms Prema Cariappa of the Congress said 10 million female foetuses were aborted in the past 20 years. The ultra-sound centres find it a profitable business and hence the tendency is spreading fast. Ms N.P. Durga of the Telegu Desam said the phenomenon of female foeticides will dwindle demographics in the country. To check it is not the sole responsibility of states. The centre must take concrete steps to reverse the trend which is alarming especially in northern states.

Mr Gian Prakash Pilania of the BJP said female foeticide is equivalent to murder in the womb. Doctors, nurses, other specialists and even parents involved in the exercise must be punished according to criminal laws.

Sex ratio (number of females per thousand males) is one of the most important indicator used for study of population characteristics.

Declining trend in sex ratio has been a matter of concern for many experts in the country which has declined from 972 in 1901 to 927 in 1991.

The census 2001 figures show that child sex ratio is comparatively lower in affluent regions, that is Punjab (798), Haryana (819), Chandigarh (845), Delhi (868) and Himachal Pradesh (896).

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