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.
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.
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.
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.
| Why in News | Key Points |
|---|---|
| Bihar’s sex ratio at birth declines to 882 females per 1,000 males, triggering government action. | – Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB): 882 females per 1,000 males (2023-24). Decline from 894 (2022-23). |
| Bihar government’s strict enforcement of laws against female foeticide and promotion of gender equality. | – Mukhyamantri Kanya Utthan Yojna: Supports girls from birth through education. |
| – PC-PNDT Act (Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act): Enforced to prevent sex-selective abortion. | |
| Awareness campaigns to celebrate girl children and change societal attitudes. | – Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme: National program launched in 2015 to address declining child sex ratio. |
| Vaishali and Bhojpur districts show alarming decline in sex ratio, while others like Bhagalpur show improvement. | – Vaishali: Worst-performing district with SRB below 800. |
| Bihar’s Health Minister Mangal Pandey emphasizes moral issue of female foeticide. | – Bihar CM: Nitish Kumar. |
| – Bihar Capital: Patna. | |
| Chief Secretary Amrit Lal Meena directs strict implementation of laws. | – Awareness campaigns to promote gender equality. |
| National Health Mission data highlights 4.6 crore “missing” females due to son preference. | – Bihar’s focus: Stricter enforcement and sensitization programs. |
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