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.

Mission Convergence Director Rashmi Singh said: “We have been working through the 80 Gender Resource Centers established across the city. The centres are very proactive in ensuring that our welfare schemes reach women.”

Mixed reaction
The figures have evoked both support and scepticism from activists and the medical community. Delhi is setting a precedent for states like Haryana and Punjab, said Sandhya Bajaj, member of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights.

“The figures are theoretically impossible, because as per norm, we cannot have 1,004 girls against 1,000 boys,” said Dr Puneet Bedi, a gynaecologist in Hauz Khas. “Either the figures are incorrect or boys are being killed at birth,” the doctor added. A member of the UN Population Fund said birth registrations are not a clear indicator of dipping female foeticide, as there is no way of tracking sex determination procedures conducted before birth.