Skewed young voters’ gender ratio points to low girl child births in ’05

BENGALURU: Although there is a significant improvement in the overall gender ratio in the final electoral roll for 2024 released ahead of Lok Sabha elections, analysis of the data shows the ratio is far more skewed among young voters (aged 18 and 19) and is symptomatic of a larger problem of fewer girl children being born in Karnataka.

Compared to the overall gender ratio of 997 (women voters for every 1,000 men), it is only 856 among those aged 18 and 19 years. While the ratio as per the Census is 973 and the overall electoral roll ratio is much higher, election officials said the reasons for the poor ratio among young voters are many. However, they primarily attributed it to a poor sex ratio at birth during 2005-06.

Officials said they have cross-referenced multiple datasets, including birth registry, health surveys, data from urban development department among others before arriving at this conclusion.

Manoj Kumar Meena, Karnataka’s chief electoral officer (CEO), told TOI: “We have put in a lot of effort in trying to enrol every eligible person and that reflects in the improvement in the overall ratio. While there may be some peo ple — school dropouts, those who have had child marriages and those who have migrated — who may not have enrolled, we believe a major reason for the statistical skew is poor birth ratio in 2005-06.”

At the time of finalising the voter list, about 400 polling booths had zero young female voters registered. Officials in charge of voter enrolment told TOI there were nearly 3,000 such booths when the exercise began, and extensive work was carried out to reduce the gap.

National family health survey data shows sex ratio at childbirth in 2005-06 was 922, while the overall ratio was a healthy 1,028. However, this further deteriorated in 2015-16, when the state reported 910 females per 1,000 males at birth and the overall ratio dipped to 979. This could mean that the 2034 electoral rolls could have a gender ratio that is more skewed so far as young voters go.

It is no secret that Karnataka is still battling female foeticide with the government forming a special task force to curb the practice.
But Dr Anupama HS, a gynaecologist and writer from Honnavar, said: “The situation could have been such in 2005-06, but the problem [gender discrimination] is deep-rooted in our society and mere confiscation of scanners at clinics is not going to resolve the issue. We need to create an environment that is safe for women and social evils like dowry must be eradicated.”

But experts agree that better implementation of the provisions of the PreConception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act 1994 could help remedy the situation. Meena said: “Efforts were taken to enrol all eligible electors. In case an eligible elector’s name is missing, they are encouraged to enrol their name. It’s important to note that no changes can be made to the electoral rolls on the day of the poll. Therefore, electors are advised to verify and confirm their names without delay.”

Prof CM Lakshmana of Population Research Centre (PRC) at the Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), while echoing the views of election officials, called for a more detailed study into the matter and for officials to recommend corrective measures.
“We are still working on bridging some gaps that we identified, but that may not make a significant increase in the ratio,” Meena added.