Women behind men in numbers game

Even as women in Kolkata stand up to be counted in all walks of life, the numbers game is running them down. And there is no greater indicator of this harsh reality than the sex ratio, which, according to the last Census, pegs the proportion of women to men in Kolkata at 923:1,000.
“The final report will be released by the end of this year. But the trend in Kolkata shows that the ratio of women to men in this city is one of the lowest nationwide,� said Vikram Sen, director, Census.
To put Kolkata’s sex ratio of 923:1,000 in perspective, here are the figures of other states: Kerala: 1,058:1,000; Pondicherry: 1,001:1,000; Tamil Nadu: 986:1,000; Andhra Pradesh: 978:1,000, Bhubneshwar: 970:1000.
“The high number of male immigrants in Kolkata is responsible for tilting the sex-ratio. But the biggest factor is foeticide. The desire of couples to have a male child has given birth to a malpractice which, though banned, continues to exist,� said city sociologist Anniruddh Roy. “Despite a ban on sex-determination tests, even people from educated families continue to indulge in this malpractice,� said gynaecologist Aloke Bhowmick. Side by side, a look at the city’s crime statistics reveals that hardly any unscrupulous doctor offering illegal sex-selection techniques has been booked. A social disaster is being propagated right under the city’s nose. And considering the rate at which the sex-ratio is becoming more lopsided by the day, the day is not far away when Kolkata’s men might have to seek marital alliances in other states.
subhra.sircar@timesgroup.com