The campaign will continue for a period of six months. In all, 66 different activities are planned to reach the message of ‘save girl child’ to the masses.

There are ample of reasons why the government should launch such programme in the State. The State is witnessing a sharp decline in the gender ratio. There is not a single district where the girls outnumber boys or are even in the same numbers. The sex ratio is a cause for concern in 16 districts. These are Bhind (838), Morena (839), Gwalior (839), Datia (875), Shivpuri (877), Chhattarpur (884), Sagar (896), Vidisha (897), Raisen (899), Ashoknagar (900), Tikamgarh (901), Sheopur (903), Panna (907), Guna (910), Bhopal (911) and Hoshangabad (912)

The situation is worse vis a vis child sex ratio. According to a survey conducted by a government agency, child sex ratio is as low as 807 in Gwalior. The figures of other districts are no less distressing: Jabalpur (835), Sagar (844), Betul (845), Datia (848), Guna (853), Morena (857), Bhind (877), Chhatarpur (885), Vidisha (885), Ratlam (886), Shajapur (886), Tikamgarh (890), Shivpuri (891), Narsinghpur (894), Khandwa-Burhanpur (895), Chinndwara (898), Dewas (909), Mandsaur (910), Bhopal (912), Sidhi (918), Hoshangabad (918) , Harda (924), Seoni (924), Satna (929), Sehore (929), Raisen (929), Ujjain (933), Damoh (937), Dhar (939), Neemuch (942), Umaria (946), Rewa (950), Balaghat (967), Sheopur (972), Katni (977) and Mandla (990). In only one district of the State is the child sex ratio skewed in favour of the girls. And that is not an urban, educated area. It is the deeply forested, tribal district of Dindori. In fact, the sex ratio in all tribal districts is better than the other areas, indicating that the tribals do not discriminate between the male and female child.

The sex ratio in the State has declined from 967 in 1961 to 912 in 2011. An analysis of the figures of the child sex ratio shows that in 5 districts, it is below 850, in 17 between 851 and 900 and in 19 between 901 and 950. In only 9 districts it is more than 950 and in only one, more than 1000.

A survey, got conducted by the government shows that people prefer boys to girls because a) They believe that the son is the preserver of the family. b) They feel that the male child is necessary to perform the last rites of the parents. c) They are concerned about the safety of the girl child in view of the growing lawlessness in the society d) They think that sons take care of their parents in old age e) Growing demand of dowry f) Harassment of brides for dowry by their husband’s families, which, sometimes leads to suicide or murder of the bride.

The survey also revealed that the socially and financially upper class families resort to pre-natal sex determination tests more frequently. They also use surgical and other methods to abort the child, in case the child in the womb turns out to be a girl. Earlier, the facility of Sonography was very rare. But now it is available even in semi-urban and rural areas.

The survey warns that if the tendency of resorting to female foeticide is not checked, a Haryana-like situation may develop in MP. In Haryana, brides are being ‘imported’ from states like Kerala. According to the findings of an international agency, by 2050, as many as 2.80 crore males in India may be forced to remain bachelor all their lives. The UN describes such a situation as ‘marriage squeeze’. This may give rise of the sexual exploitation of women.

People are of the view that certain drastic measures are needed to put a brake on the declining sex ratio. One of the measures can be compulsory registration of pregnancy. Pregnancies should be registered just as births and deaths are. Such a step will help in better monitoring of the pregnant mothers. In case she wants to resort to medical termination of pregnancy, the final decision must be taken by a panel of doctors. Similarly, findings of Sonography tests should also be approved by a panel of doctors. In case the Sonography reveals a female foetus and if the pregnancy is aborted, stern action should be taken against the mother and her family. (IPA Service)