Uttarakhand: No girl born in 3 months in 132 villages
What's the story
While the Central government has been promoting the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao scheme, it seems Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district doesn't even have the first half down.
As per recent official data, not a single girl child was born in 132 villages of the district in the past three months. Incidentally, 216 children were born in the region during the same period.
Here are more details.
Statistics
Official data from state health department revealed shocking numbers
State health department revealed that not a single girl child was born among 51 births in 27 villages of Dunda block, The Times of India reported.
The trend was mirrored by Bhatwari (49 childbirths in 27 villages), Naugaun (47 births in 28 villages), Mori (29 births in 20 villages), Chinyalisaur (23 births in 16 villages) and Purola block (17 births in 14 villages).
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This clearly indicates female foeticide, says social worker
Notably, social worker Kalpana Thakur told ANI, "No girl child was born for three months in these villages. It cannot be just a coincidence. This clearly indicates female foeticide is taking place in the district. The government and the administration are not doing anything."
Details
All 132 villages marked under the red zone: Uttarkashi DM
Evidently, the sheer absence of female births from the data has led to suspicions of sex-selective abortions or female foeticide.
Saying that the numbers could be a "coincidence" given lack of evidence suggesting female foeticide, the District Magistrate of Uttarkashi, Ashish Chauhan told TOI, "We have marked all these 132 villages under the red zone and have put local ASHA workers on radar."
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Will monitor data, activities over next six months: Chauhan
Chauhan added, "We will monitor the data and activities of these villages for the next six months and take strict action against ASHA workers if the situation does not improve. Moreover, we will also take legal action against the family who will be found guilty."
Census
958 females for 1,000 males in Uttarkashi
Further, as per the last 2011 census, there are 1,61,489 females and 1,68,597 males in Uttarkashi. However, despite government campaigns to improve the sex ratio, there were no female births in the past three months.
Interestingly, between 1901 and 1931, the district's sex ratio was 1,015 females per 1,000 males. Thereafter, it started being unfavorable to women, dropping to 958 in 2011.
Information
Uttarakhand has lowest sex ratio for urban areas
Meanwhile, as per the 2011 census, Uttarakhand also has the lowest sex ratio at birth (0-6 years age) for urban areas, with 816 girls for 1,000 boys. To note, India's sex ratio at birth is 919 females per 1,000 males.
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Directed health department to investigate; take action: Gangotri MLA
Separately, Gangotri MLA Gopal Rawat said, "It's shocking to have zero girl childbirths in 132 villages of Uttarkashi, as we have rarely heard or seen any incident of female foeticide in hills."
"I have directed the health department to find out the real cause of such alarming figures and take serious action to resolve it," Rawat said, adding that awareness campaigns will be launched.