Bihar’s Sex Ratio Drops to 882: Government Acts Against Female Foeticide

Bihar’s alarming decline in its sex ratio at birth, now at 882 females per 1,000 males, has prompted urgent government action. The state has pledged to enforce the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC-PNDT) Act more strictly and launched multiple awareness campaigns to prevent female foeticide and improve gender parity. This decline, from 894 in 2022-23 to 882 in 2023-24, places Bihar among India’s worst-performing states in terms of child gender ratio.

Critical Statistics and Government Response

The state’s sex ratio at birth (SRB) has worsened significantly, and areas like Vaishali, Bhojpur, and Saran have been identified as regions with the sharpest declines. To tackle this, Health Minister Mangal Pandey highlighted Bihar’s Mukhyamantri Kanya Utthan Yojna, which spans the entire life of a girl child from birth to education, aiming to prevent female foeticide and enhance gender equality. He emphasized that female foeticide is a moral and social issue, urging citizens to value daughters as much as sons.

Awareness Campaigns and Law Enforcement

In response to the crisis, the Bihar government is focusing on mindset changes through intensive community engagement. The social welfare department has directed district magistrates to ensure strict adherence to the PC-PNDT Act. An emphasis is being placed on mass awareness campaigns to celebrate the birth of girls, especially in districts like Vaishali and Bhojpur, where the SRB has sharply declined. Additional Chief Secretary Harjot Kaur Bamhrah underlined the importance of sensitizing the community to save the girl child.

Improving Gender Parity: The Path Forward

Despite the troubling figures, some districts, such as Bhagalpur, Siwan, and Kishanganj, have shown an improvement in their SRB. However, for Bihar to reverse its gender disparity, continued and rigorous enforcement of policies like the PC-PNDT Act and public awareness campaigns will be critical. Through initiatives like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Mukhyamantri Kanya Utthan Yojna, the state is determined to change societal attitudes toward the girl child.

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