'Meri Shakti Meri Beti' campaign to combat foeticide launched

New Delhi, Aug 21 (UNI) With female foeticide fast emerging as a problem in the national capital, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Centre for Social Research (CSR) today launched the 'Meri Shakti Meri Beti' campaign to combat sex selection.

Narela (South West), Punjabi Bagh (West) and Najafgarh (South West) with the sex ratio of 828, 842, and 841 respectively (per 1000 males) will be monitored and evaluated in terms of implementation of Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Act).

A host of community based awareness campaigns will be launched in the areas, ''The seriousness of the problem demands action from every one in the society.... It is my plea to all the citizens of these three areas to wake up to this call and erase this shameful distinction of being cruel to their daughters," CSR Director Dr Ranjana Kumari said.

As part of the project CSR will conduct a situational analysis on action taken by the existing agencies on the issue in the areas.

In 2001, the sex ratio in India stood at 927 girls per 1,000 boys.

In the capital the situation was even graver with only 868 girls per 1000 boys. In Delhi the lowest ratio recorded was in the South West of the city, where many of Delhi's most affluent and educated live.

The ratio has dropped alarmingly from 904 in 1991 to 846 in 2001. The numbers show that there is no sign of the trend reversing.

''Income and wealth, usually taken as symbols of prosperity and development, have not led to a change in the social mindset of the people. It is being felt that the highly prosperous areas of the city are not immune to the trend of female foeticide,'' she said.

According to a study, India's skewed sex ratio could have a profound impact on its demographics in the years to come. In effect, it will mean bachelorhood for many men, social strife and even an explosion of HIV-AIDS.

Condemning the practice of sex selection that results in female foeticide, Dr Kumari said, ''It is not just a question of declining girl population, but a question of infringement of human rights and most importantly the survival of the human race. Each child has the right to be born, therefore, combating sex selection is imperative to ensure right to life and dignity of women.'' UNI NR MIR GC1908