This presentation highlights the dismal sex ration of Punjab and what the government and NGOs are doing about it .

1. THE MISSING GIRLS

2. Punjab has always had a somewhat poor sex ratio right since India’s Independence and it continues to decline Unfortunately, the evil of female foeticide is more prevalent among the educated, the rich and the urban bred . In urban areas, it goes further down to 761 : 1000. Rural areas are better off with 793 : 1000. THE SITUATION !

5. 1) To avoid perceived social disgrace of not having a son 2) Escaping property division . Statutory laws such as the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act and the Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques [Regulation and Prevention of Misuse] Act are not enforced strictly and doctors convicted open their clinics again. WHY IS IT SO ?

6. The ShiromaniGurdwaraParbandhak Committee called for a SamajChetna Lehar (Social Awareness Campaign) to encourage young couples to have a girl child. They had earlier announced that they would be putting up cradles outside the Gurdwaras, so that people could come and leave their girl children instead of killing them or abandoning them in the open. NGO MEASURES .

7. Punjab, along with gurdwara committees and youth clubs of twenty villages, got together and pledged to fight against female foeticide . The village panchayats decided to boycott the “kudimaar” (girl killer) villages, if the sex ratio in these villages was found to be skewed. They pledged that they would not marry their children in villages that killed female children in womb. NGO MEASURES

9. Conditional Cash Transfer Scheme : In districts, where the sex ratio is really poor, the government will be offering cash incentives to families that have a girl child. Every newborn girl who has been registered will be given Rs 5000. Not only that , but at various stages of her education also, she will be given incentives. GOVERNMENT MEASURES

11. The PNDT Act was amended in 2003 to improve regulation of technology capable of sex selection . The appropriate Authorities at the District and State levels are empowered to search, seize and seal the machines, equipments and records of the violators. The sale of certain diagnostic equipment is restricted only to the bodies registered under the Act GOVERNMENT MEASURES

12. Public awareness campaigns through Auxiliary Nursing Midwives (ANMs) Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs). To support enforcement , Government has setup National Inspection & Monitoring Committee and Central and State Supervisory Boards . The women and child development ministry is planning to institute awards for district magistrates who improve sex ratio in their districts . GOVERNMENT MEASURES

13. The sex-ratio has improved to 896 girls against 1000 boys as on August 1 , 2010 . The health department with the support of people has been able to catch 401 / 1327 Ultrasound centers for various violations under PC&PNDT act. She said that 83 Panchayats that achieved the sex ratio (0-6yrs) up-to 1000 or more have been honored at state level functions and given cash awards . EFFECTIVENESS

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