Child Sex Ratio Declines In Odisha : CAG

31 March, Bhubaneswar

The child sex ratio has declined in Odisha from 953 in 2001 to 941 in 2011,according to CAG report for the year ended in March 2014 tabled in the state Assembly Tuesday.

The report said as per 2011 census, the overall sex ratio in the state improved from 972 per 1,000 in 2001 to 979 in2011. But there was a decline in the sex ratio in the age group of 0-6 years from 953 in 2001 to 941 in 2011 as against national ratio of 914.

It said during 2001-11 child sex ratio declined in 21 out of 30 districts of the state by 1 to 49 points with highest decline in reported in Nayagarh (904 to 855), followed by Dhenkanal (925 to 877) and Angul (937 to 889). Census 2011 data showed that the decline in child sex ration in urban areas was more than that in rural areas of the state. I

It indicated the misuse of the technique of pre-conception and pre-natal sex determination causing female foeticide as most of the ultrasound clinics were functioning in urban areas.

Deficiencies like unauthorised functioning of ultrasound clinics, issue of registration certificate without inquiry,delay in renewal of ultra sound clinics, non tracking of portable ultrasound sonography machines, absence of regular inspection and non-implementation of recommendations of state supervisory Board were the cause of the declined sex ratio.

The report said children in the age group of 0-18 years constitute 36.52 per cent of total population of the state of which 49.09 per cent are girls as per census 2011. The Infant Mortality rate and literacy rates of female in the state were at 59 and 62.46 against national rates of 46and 65.46 respectively.