Female birth rate up in HP, says Chief Minister

Shimla, Nov 22 (UNI) The female birth rate in Himachal Pradesh has increased during the last few years as compared to the 2001 Census, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said here today.

The Chief Minister, while speaking at a seminar ''Female Foeticide and Role of Voluntary Organisations'' said the state government has taken effective steps to check female foeticide and in addition a grant of Rs five lakh would be given to one panchayat in each district registering more female births.

Mr Singh said Indira Gandhi Balika Surksha Yojna was started in the state to check practice of female foeticide and government would also provide an incentive of Rs 25,000 to those parents who adopts family planning after one girl child and Rs 20,000 after two girl children.

He said that Rs 10,000 would be given to person giving information about female foeticide and added that government would also consider to bring about a law, if necessary, to check the crime.

The Chief Minister said NGOs could play a significant role in generating awareness in the society about such practices and added that government was promoting NGOs in all the sectors as they could reach out to the public.

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