Dibang in Arunachal tops as 'Beti Bachao' performer
According to data by the WCD Ministry, Dibang Valley in Arunachal Pradesh has emerged the best performer in implementing the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme with an increase of 416 points in sex ratio at birth (SRB). It was followed by Lakshadweep, Hamirpur (Himachal), Kadapa (Karnataka) and Pulwama (J&K). Of 161 districts with the worst SRB, 104 have showed improvement, officials said.
Exactly how much improvement did the top-five districts show?
In 2015-16, Dibang had an SRB of 761 points; the next year, it rose to 1,176 points. For Lakshadweep, there was a 122-point increase from 832 to 955; in Hamirpur, it increased from 849 to 943 points. Kadapa (900 to 974 points) and Pulwama (949 to 1,018) ended the top-five list. The findings are based on data till March 31.
Aspects other than SRB also improved
Improvements were seen in other aspects too: in 146 districts, there was an increase in institutional delivery. In secondary education, the target was 76-79% enrolment of girls in 161 districts, but 81% was achieved. For 2017, the goal is 85%.
What about the rest of India?
According to WCD secretary Rakesh Srivastava, "if we draw a vertical line across India, states on the left have low sex ratio", but things are looking up. In Haryana, the state with the worst child sex ratio (834), and Punjab, 14 each of 20 districts showed improvement. In Rajasthan, 10 of 14 districts bettered. In Delhi, four of seven showed an increase in SRB.
To the contrary, decline in SRB at some places
Some registered declining SRB: Manipur's Saiha (898 from 1,022); J&K's Shopian (959 from 1,062) and Bandipur (885 from 964); UP's Ghaziabad (908 from 977); Nicobar Islands (839 from 948); and in Delhi, South (916 to 899) East (918 to 900) and Southwest (881 to 875).
