Haryana

• 09 Jan 2025

Rise in Sex Ratio at Birth in Haryana

Why in News? 

According to officials, Haryana has improved its sex ratio from 871 in 2014 to 910 in 2024, marking a 39-point rise. This progress underscores Haryana’s dedication and the success of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) initiative. 

 Key Points 

• Combating Female Foeticide: 
  • Haryana has intensified its campaign against female foeticide and strengthened enforcement of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act 1994. 
    • Since 2014, the state has filed 1,217 First Information Report (FIR) under the Act, including 397 through interstate raids. 
  • These actions have led to over 4,000 arrests, targeting doctors, quacks, and touts involved in illegal sex determination and female foeticide. 
• Focus on Maternal Healthcare and Education: 
  • Haryana has made significant strides in maternal healthcare, with institutional deliveries increasing from 35.7% in 2005-06 to 94.9% in recent years. 
  • Secondary education enrollment has risen from 3,85,624 in 2015-16 to 4,00,736 in 2023-24. 
• Promoting Gender Equality and Support for Families: 
  • Over 5,23,056 families have benefited from a one-time payment of Rs 21,000 for the birth of a girl child. 
  • The Poshan Abhiyan, launched in 2018, has targeted anaemia and improved nutrition, benefiting 2,24,136 participants through Anganwadi centres. 
• Empowering Adolescent Girls and Financial Support Initiatives: 
  • The Adolescent Girls Scheme in Mewat has supported 13,439 girls aged 14-18 in 2024-25 with self-development, skill-building, and health services. 
  • The Sukanya Samriddhi Scheme has facilitated the opening of 8,23,522 savings accounts for daughters under 10 years old. 
  • Financial support has been provided to survivors of the POCSO Act, with Rs 1.31 crore disbursed across 778 cases by October 2024. 
• Promoting Gender Awareness Through Media: 
  • In 2024, Haryana launched the “Mahri Lado” radio programme on All India Radio to reshape societal attitudes towards girls. 
  • The programme, covering health, nutrition, financial independence, and leadership, has engaged over 1,60,000 participants. 

 Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994 

• The PCPNDT Act, 1994 is an Act of the Parliament of India that was enacted to stop female foeticides and arrest the declining sex ratio in India. The act banned prenatal sex determination. 
• The main objective of enacting the act is to ban the use of sex selection techniques before or after conception and prevent the misuse of prenatal diagnostic techniques for sex-selective abortion. 

 Poshan Abhiyan 

• POSHAN Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission) was launched by the government on 8^th March, 2018. 
• The Abhiyaan targets to reduce stunting, undernutrition, anemia (among young children, women and adolescent girls) and reduce low birth weight by 2%, 2%, 3% and 2% per annum respectively. 

 Sukanya Samriddhi Account Scheme 

• It aims to promote the welfare of girl children in India. 
• Parents or legal guardians can open deposits for up to two daughters aged below 10, and in the case of twin girls or three girl children, the scheme allows three accounts to be opened. 
• Minimum initial deposit is Rs 250 and Maximum annual ceiling is Rs 150,000. 
• Deposits can be made for a maximum of 15 years. The account matures on completion of 21 years from the date of opening or on the marriage of the account holder, whichever is earlier.