Haryana’s sex ratio at birth rises to 912, up from 904 last year

Officials attributed the current rise to sustained efforts by the Health and Women and Child Development departments.

During Wednesday’s meeting, Dr Virender Yadav, Director, Health Services, stressed stricter action against illegal abortions, including cancellation of licences of erring doctors. While chairing the meeting, Dr Yadav also reviewed progress under the Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao campaign.

“The Senior Medical Officer (SMO) of CHC Gopi in Charkhi Dadri has been charge-sheeted for poor sex ratio performance. Show-cause notices have been issued to SMOs of Naraingarh, Mullana and Chaurmastpur, and to the Chief Medical Officers of Palwal, Charkhi Dadri, Sirsa and Sonipat,” a press statement issued after the meeting said.

Dr Yadav ordered special drives to register all unregistered female children below one year, especially in districts with falling ratios. He asked for alignment of the Civil Registration System (CRS) portal data with delivery records and efforts to raise conviction rates in illegal abortion cases.

According to officials, Fatehabad, Gurgaon, Panchkula, Panipat, and Rewari recorded significant improvements, while Sirsa, Sonipat, and Charkhi Dadri saw declines. Officials in these districts were instructed to increase vigilance and conduct joint inspections of ultrasound centres.

Dr Yadav also directed greater use of Anganwadi and ASHA workers for awareness, promotion of institutional deliveries, and early child registration.

In August, Sudhir Rajpal, Additional Chief Secretary (Health), directed officials to strengthen reverse tracking of Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) and abortion cases beyond 12 weeks, particularly where a couple has one or more daughters.

During previous meetings, the Haryana Health Department has directed the state police to trace phone records and location history of the accused in cases of the sale of illegal abortion kits.

In a meeting held in July, STF stated that couples in Haryana who have at least one living female child, and wish to have another child through in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) must obtain prior permission from the District Appropriate Authority.

STF looks at improving the sex ratio and implementing the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostics Technique Act.