Delhi’s gender ratio a matter of concern: Sheila

Citing government statistics of the last five years,Dikshit said in 2008,the sex ratio had improved but it dropped in 2010 despite introduction of a number schemes,like Laadli Yojna,aimed at saving the girl child.

“The female to male sex ratio in Delhi is not healthy. In 2008,we had about 1,004 females against 1,000 males. But,2010 witnessed a drop. It is surely a matter of concern,” Dikshit said at a function held to mark the National Girl Child Day.

Dikshit said despite a ban,some nursing homes continued to conduct pre-natal sex determination tests and added that her government was determined to come down hard on such institutions.

In September last year,Sheila Dikshit,in a reply to a letter from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,expressed concern over the declining sex ratio,a problem which,she told Newsline,was created by the mindset of the people.

“We appeal to people to save the girl child. The government is chalking out a multi-pronged strategy to address the problem and achieve 100 per cent success,” she said.

Women and Child Development Minister Kiran Walia said poor health facilities in neighbouring states were partly to be blamed for the dent in Delhi’s sex ratio.

“Lack of proper medical infrastructure in neighbouring states forces pregnant women to come to Delhi for delivery and when a baby dies during or after delivery,it reflects on the statistics of Delhi,” he said.

On Tuesday,around 2,000 women and anganwadi workers celebrated the National Girl Child Day at the function organised by the Delhi government. A number of anganwadi workers were also awarded for their performances at the function.