Child sex ratio in UP dips, sex determination travel to east UP

LUCKNOW: The district-wise census figures on child sex ratio (CSR) (0-6 age group) of Uttar Pradesh released on Tuesday show that situation has turned from bad to worse in the state.
In 2001, the CSR of the state was 916, which dropped to 899 in the latest edition of Census. Before 2001, if the districts in west UP were considered as the killing fields for the unborn girl child, the 2011 figures show that the social evil has made inroads in east and central parts of UP.The easterm and central districts have emerged as new 'mandis' of sex determination. According to estimates, around 500 female foeticde cases take place in the state every day, which comes out to be over 1.5 lakh per annum.
The reason for fall of CSR in the state is that earlier there was a sharp decline in west UP districts, where technology was easily accessible due to proximity to Delhi, Punjab and Haryana -- the three states with lowest CSR. However, while 2011 Census shows that CSR has improved in these three states, it has declined sharply in UP with technology travelling from west to its eastern parts.
As per census 2011, Balrampur is the only district in the state having a CSR of 968, that is, 968 girls taking birth against 1000 boys. In comparison, 13 districts had CSR above 950 in 2001. There has been a steady decline in CSR all over the state with Kanpur, Jaunpur, Lucknow, Allahabad and Varanasi emerging as 'mandis' for the genocide. These districts have also witnessed a rise in number of ultrasound centres.
Lucknow today has over 365 ultrasound centres, while in Varanasi and Varanasi such centres are over 200. There are more than 250 ultrasound centres in Kanpur and 150 in Jaunpur.
Interestingly, there are scores of ultrasound centres, which are unregistered and indulge in sex determination.
"Come to Jaunpur, if you want to get rid of a female child," said a senior doctor in Jaunpur, who ran into trouble after he tried to expose the organised `female foeticide'. "I would say that people indulging in the crime are no less than a mafia. They work in an organised manner in connivance with the government officials. Over a dozen clinics were raided and sealed last year for not following norms. But, no action has been taken against them," he added.
Another doctors, who is now being harassed by the `foeticide mafia', said that he regularly receives patients from districts like Aazamgarh, Mau and Ballia who have developed complications after undergoing abortions done by untrained staff in illegal centres for medical termination of pregnancy.
According to social activists working against female foeticide, Lucknow is catering to Hardoi, Unnao, Fatehpur and Pratapgarh. Allahabad and Jhansi are covering seven districts of Bundelkhand and Kanpur offer services to Etah, Etawah, Uanno, Kannauj and Mainpuri. "At times people come from far off places to these districts for sex determination and abortion," said Anjani Kumar Singh, an activist. "We have also seen mobile ultrasound units visiting interior localities, but all our complaints fell on the deaf ear of the government officers, who continue to argue that female foeticide is a social problem and not criminal," he added.
The 2011 Census data shows that CSR has declined between 50-20 points in 32 districts with Hardoi topping with 51 points.
A study done by Vatsalya, a NGO, on behalf of state health department in 2009 to assess the implementation of Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Technique (prohibition of sex determination) Act in UP showed that of 3,647 ultrasound clinics in 71 districts of the state; 2,945 were run by the private sector. Around 2,283 private centres were found to be run by untrained professionals. Only in about 40 districts, the record registers are maintained and duly signed by the District Appropriate Authorities.
Ayurvedic and homeopathic doctors got certificates to open ultrasound centres in Gautam Budh Nagar, Jaunpur, Mau, Meerut, Pratapgarh, Unnao, Deoria, Ballia. In Ghazipur, 12 non-medicos were found running centres, 24 in Jaunpur and 16 in Sultanpur.
In-vitro fertilisation centres found in Allahabad, Kanpur, Moradabad, Meerut and Noida are working without proper registration or are registered as ultrasound clinics. Around 49 ultrasound clinics (39 in Meerut, 10 in Gautam Budh Nagar) were found to be functioning in violation of the Act.
At many places a doctor was registered at more than one centre. For example in Bareilly one Dr ST (only initials) was found to be registered at seven places. Similarly, in Ghaziabad, one Dr JNM was registered in 12 centres and another Dr PS at seven places. In Kanpur, Dr SS was registered at six centres and Dr TG was at eight places in Meerut.
In Kanpur, 29 centres were sealed for violation of the Act last year. But, no action was taken thereafter.
"Unless we will not take strict action against those violating the Act, no change is possible," admitted a senior officer but rued that people do not take it seriously be it government or non-government.
Consequences of Skewed Sex Ratio:
-polyandry
-bride-buying
-Increase in physical violence and sexual crimes against women.
-Increase in social crimes like rape, trafficking and eve-teasing.
(Number of girls in comparison to 1000 boys)
Highest CSR
* Balrampur -- 968
* Sant Kabir Nagar -- 940
* Bahraich -- 933
* Barabanki -- 930
* Ambedkarnagar -- 929
* Rae Bareli 929
Lowest CSR
Place---In 2001----In 2011
Agra -- 855 --- 835
Baghpat -- 850 -- 837
Bulandshahr -- 867 -- 844
Gautam Budh Nagar 854 -- 845
Ghaziabad -- 854 -- 850
Highest CSR Decline
Place------------------In 2001---In 2011
Hardoi-----------------914----863 (-51)
Ballia------------------942----897 (-45)
Siddharthanagar---964----922 (-42)
Kushinagar----------955----917 (-38)
Bahraich--------------970----933 (-37)
Sonbhadra-----------956----920 (-36)
Bijnor----------------912----870 (-35)
Maharajganj----------958----924 (- 34)
* As per Census 2011, 32 districts have child sex ratio below 900.
* Of 71 districts, 62 have shown decline in child sex ratio.
* Only 1 district CSR above 950.
* Only 3 districts CSR between 930-950.
* 36 districts CSR between 900-930.
* 27 distrcts have CSR between 850-900.
* 4 districts have CSR below 850.
* The ratio increased in Saharanpur (+11), Auraiya (+1), Kanpur Dehat (+4), Kanpur (+1), Balrampur (+7), Chandauli (+39), Shahjahanpur (+5), Budaun (+12), Kanshiram Nagar (+11).
CSR OF MAJOR DISTRICTS
Place--------1991----2001------2011
Lucknow------948-----915-------913
Kanpur-------941-----869-------870
Allahabad----938-----917-------902
Varanasi-----944-----919-------896
Ghaziabad----886-----854-------850
Meerut-------905-----857-------850.