PRE-BIRTH ELIMINATION OF FEMALES IN INDIA: ISSUES AND CHALLENGES DR. KANUPRIYA CHATURVEDI

Sex Ratio females per 1000 males (Census 2001) Child Sex Ratio (0-6 years) females per 1000 males (Census 2001) SITUATION ANALYSIS

CHILD SEX RATIO: Child Sex Ratio (0-6) < = > = 969 Missing data

79% of the total 577 districts in the country registered a decline in CSR between 1991 – or about 35% of the districts registered child sex ratios below the national average of 927 females per 1000 males 49 districts recorded child sex ratios below 850 Punjab with 82 points decline has the highest reduction in the CSR, followed by Haryana with 59 points 754 girls per 1000 boys is the lowest district level CSR recorded - Punjab Sharper CSR decline in urban areas (32 points in 2001) than in the rural (14 points) Urban child sex ratio is 903 females per 1000 males (2001 Census) and rural child sex ratio is 934 females per 1000 males Only 4 states (Kerala, Mizoram, Tripura & Sikkim) and 1 union territory (Lakshadweep) out of the 35 states and UTs, recorded an increase in CSR in girls per 1000 boys is the highest district level CSR recorded - Sikkim

DISTRICT LEVEL CHILD SEX RATIO

States in the frontline of economic progress like Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, etc., have recorded the sharpest decline in child sex ratios. State/UT#Child sex ratio Poverty Ratio (% of population living (0-6 years females below poverty line) per 1000 males) *(combined High Income States Delhi # Gujarat Haryana Himachal Pradesh Punjab Maharashtra Low Income States Sikkim Tripura West Bengal Orissa

Imbalanced sex ratios an indication of deep-rooted gender bias, undermines the right to life of girls Pre-birth elimination of girls creates scarcity of women, which may result in: Girls being married at younger age Increased numbers of child brides further contribute to the poor status of women, as they are less likely to finish school or develop job skills before marriage Young brides and their children are more likely to suffer from increased morbidity and mortality associated with early childbirth Increase in acts of violence against girls and women, e.g., rape, abduction, trafficking, due to surplus of men Loss of women likely to have negative consequences on the economy since women are a vital part of India’s labour force IMPLICATIONS

Government's response continued.. Implementation strategy focuses on: Advocacy and communication – Mobilising media both print and electronic to create nation-wide publicity and awareness Capacity building – Ranges from organising training programmes to provisioning of essential reading materials to equip and enhance knowledge base Promoting, strengthening and working with partners - The GOI works with a range of partners, particularly other departments like the Department of Women and Child Development, the Registrar General’s Office, NGOs, civil society organisations, academic institutions, UN agencies, etc.

WHAT SHOULD BE DONE Media advocacy to encourage greater focus on the issue of female foeticide Strengthen partnerships and alliances to facilitate the implementation of laws, policies and programmesthat protect the rights of girls Support research studies and data analysis Support community based initiatives

FUTURE DIRECTIONS... Promote community based inter sectoral actions to address adverse sex ratios Improve civil registration system for births, deaths and ante-natal registrations Support advocacy efforts to ensure the practice of medical ethics and work with State and National Medical Counsels Develop related indicators to help in monitoring progress Document and disseminate information Continue media advocacy and efforts to facilitate the implementation of laws, policies and programmes that protect the rights of girls.