Sex ratio improves in Sirsa

Sirsa, Jun 30 (UNI) The sex ratio has shown considerable improvement in the district as a result of the implementation of a number of schemes by the state government to enhance the socio-economic status of women and provide incentives to girls.

District Family Welfare Officer Dr P L Verma yesterday said that a survey was conducted in the district during the current year upto last month which revealed that sex ratio has improved to 895 girls against 1,000 boys in the district.

This had been in contrast to the ratio as per Census 1991 when the sex ratio in the age group of zero to six years was 886 girls for 1,000 boys, which had further reduced to 818 in the Census of 2001 in the district.

He said that the figures of the year 2005 also reflected an improvement in the sex ratio in the district as there were 857 girls against 1,000 boys. However, 7,791 babies were born in the district between January one and May 31 this year. These included 3,679 girls and 4,112 boys.

He said the state Government has declared the current year as The Year of the Girl Child and a number of schemes have been implemented for the welfare of girls and women.

He said that 325 girls have so far been registered under ''Ladli'' scheme in the district.

He said that Pre-Natal Diagnostic Technique Act (PNDT) was also being implemented effectively and 40 ultrasound centres have been registered. Surprise raids were being conducted to check their functioning as a part of the drive against female foeticide.

UNI DP AD VP0420