Odisha

Odisha Witnesses Fall In Child Sex Ratio

By
OB Bureau

Bhubaneswar: As the world observes International Day of the Girl Child on Tuesday, Odisha seems to be facing a disturbing scenario as the child sex ration (CSR) has been declining in the state over the past five years.

What has become a cause of concern is that the state has been witnessing such a trend despite an improvement in the child sex ratio nationally, reports said.

As per the Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical Report 2020, the sex ratio -females per 1,000 males – at birth for children born in the past five years in Odisha has gone down by 23 points from 948 in 2014-2016 to 925 in 2018-2020.

Odisha’s CSR is still better than the national average as it went up from 898 to 907 during the same period. Among 22 large states, the CSR dropped in Bihar, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Telangana, Uttarakhand and West Bengal, while Odisha’s fall was the steepest.

According to the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-2021), released in November 2021, Odisha’s child sex ratio was 894, showing a sharp fall from 932 in NFHS-4 (2015-2016).

Odisha’s Health Secretary Shalini Pandit said that the state has adopted a two-pronged strategy for stricter implementation of the Pre-Conception and Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques (PC & PNDT) Act, 1994, coupled with a rigorous awareness drive. “We are immensely focussing on enforcement through the PC & PNDT Act and information, education and communication activities,” Pandit was quoted by TOI as saying.

The state has recently announced financial incentives up to Rs 25,000 for sharing information about illegal sex determination tests.

According to sociologists, the approach of blaming sex determination tests only for skewed child sex ratio may not be the right strategy. It is noticed that more and more people are opting for a single child even if it is a girl.

Voicing concern over the falling sex ratio, Chairperson of Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (OSCPCR), Sandhyabati Pradhan said the commission is maintaining a close vigil on the situation.

OB Bureau

Recent Posts

IPL Auction: KKR Break Bank For Venkatesh On Lucrative Day For Indian Players; Check Top Buys

Mumbai: The first day of the IPL mega player auction at Jeddah threw up several…

November 24, 2024

Odisha Govt Hands Over Case Of Attack On Dharmasala MLA To Crime Branch

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has handed over the investigation into the attack on Dhramasala MLA…

November 24, 2024

Commissionerate Police Issues Traffic Advisory During Winter Session Of Odisha Assembly; Details Here

Bhubaneswar: The Commissionerate of Police on Sunday issued an advisory for movement of vehicular traffic…

November 24, 2024

Elon Musk Proposal: Fire US Federal Employees Who Want To Work From Home

New York: Now that President-elect Donald Trump has tasked Elon Musk with the responsibility of co-heading…

November 24, 2024

Odisha Govt Warns Of Stern Action For Renting Out Its Quarters

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has warned its employees of stern action for sub-letting their allotted…

November 24, 2024

AR Rahman Best Man In The World, Certifies Saira Banu; Then Why Their Separation?

Mumbai: There has been a lot of talk over AR Rahman and his wife Saira…

November 24, 2024

Process On To Form NODC In 2-3 Months, Says Odisha CM Mohan Majhi

Sundargarh: The North Odisha Development Council (NODC) would be formed in 2-3 months, said Chief…

November 24, 2024

Odisha DGP Reviews Security Arrangements For President’s Visit To Puri

Puri: Director General of Police (DGP) YB Khurania on Sunday reviewed the security arrangements for…

November 24, 2024