Gujarat adds 11 points to sex ratio at birth

AHMEDABAD: Gujarat has recorded an increase of 11 points in sex ratio at birth in the block year of 2016-18 as compared to 2015-17. But compared to 2012-2014 the state has reported the steepest fall of 41 points — the highest in the country. The sex ratio at birth was 907 in the block year of 2012-14 in Gujarat, while the current ratio is 866.
The Sample Registration Survey 2018, released recently, reveals that the sex ratio at birth dropped constantly in rural areas of Gujarat while it kept rising in urban areas during the last two block years.
The overall gain of 11 points in sex ratio at birth between 2015-17 and 2016-18 can largely be attributed to the improvement by 27 points in urban areas in the same period.
The child sex ratio (0-6 years) meanwhile, improved by 7 points between two censuses from 883 in Census 2001 to 890 in Census 2011.
A senior state government officer wishing anonymity said that cases of girl child abortion are still heard of in north Gujarat and Saurashtra and in certain communities.
Even in healthcare and medical attention, the officer said, parents were found ready to spend for a male child, but a girl child faced neglect. He said regular raids used to be conducted earlier on radiologists, but for the past couple of years they have reduced in frequency, and mostly devolved to token affairs.
Sociologist Gaurang Jani said it is too late now to match the number of girls with that of boys. “There are several factors that contribute to the falling girl child ratio. In several communities the new generation is adopting the nuclear family model, and once the family has a girl and a boy they adopt family planning. In some cases, if a boy is born first, the family does not go for a second child.”
Not just in urban areas, but such a trend has also been observed among the young in tribal communities. “Moreover, human fertility in the state is dropping across all communities thus affecting the sex ratio. The Census 2021 is due, and I am sure it will find child sex ratio (0-6 years) has registered a decline,” Jani said.