After repeatedly defaulting on the inequitable gender ratio, the Capital has set a precedent of sorts by recording a ratio of about 1,004 females against 1,000 males.

The figures were part of a report submitted recently by the office of the Chief Registrar, Births and Deaths, of the planning department for the Samajik Suvidha Sangam scheme initiated by the Delhi government last year. As per the figures, the number of female births increased from 1.48 lakh in 2007 to 1.67 lakh in 2008, registering an increase of 19,000.

The total number of births registered in Delhi in 2008 was 3.34 lakh against 3.22 lakh of 2007. According to the government officials, the current sex ratio is on the basis of registration of births.

According to the World Health Organization, a healthy girl-boy ratio stands at 952 females for every 1,000 males. The 2001 Census had registered 905 girls against 1,000 boys in Delhi.

“After Kerala, Delhi is the only state in the country with such a high sex ratio,” said Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta. In the 2001 Census, Kerala had registered a sex ratio of 1,058 females against 1,000 males.

“The credit,” Mehta said, “goes to the Delhi government’s Ladli scheme, which contributed to curbing female foeticide.”

Under the scheme, the government deposits about Rs 10,000 in the name of a girl at the time of her birth and Rs 5,000 each at the time of her admission to Classes I, VI, IX, X and XII. The money can be utilised for her higher studies or wedding.

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