Sex ratio at birth sees a quantum leap

From 884 girls per 1,000 boys in 2011 to 934 girls per 1,000 boys in 2012; baffled activists cautious about calling it a welcome reversal yet.

A huge jump has been seen in the sex ratio at birth in the city, from 884 girls per 1000 boys in 2011 to 934 girls per 1000 boys in 2012, reveals Pune Municipal Corporation birth registration department records, much to the bafflement of activists who have been decrying the dismal female to male ratio at birth in many areas of the state. They said it was to early to call it a welcome reversal, and would prefer to wait and watch.

Health officials at PMC, however, attributed the improved figures to awareness drives and consistent raids on Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) and sonography centres to put a check on abortion of female foetuses.

As per the records available with the birth and death registration department, the ratio has been improving gradually, with a dip in 2011. In 2007 the ratio was 871:1000. The figures marginally rose to 876 in 2008 and improved further to 886 in 2009, before dipping to 884 in 2011.

The 2012 ratio, although shows an improvement, is still below the normal of 952 girls for every 1000 boys.

Dr Anjali Sabne, acting Deputy Medical Officer, Health, PMC, said the impact of the drive against sex-determination tests had led to the positive trend while Dr Kishore Pakhare, the appropriate authority for implementing the Pre-Conception and Pre Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC-PNDT) Act said strict implementation of the Act put a check on the medical fraternity who realised that the law was a tough one. "We have now introduced the parctice of filling Form F online to make it easy for doctors to report the medical history of pregnant women," he said.

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