Sex ratio in Gurugram drops to below 900

After showing a steady improvement in the recent past, sex ratio figures in Gurugram once again took a hit, falling below 900 the mark.

For July, the sex ratio in Gurugram was recorded at 879 females for every 1,000 males.

This number is significantly lower than that of June this year, which was recorded at 904 females per 1000 males.

The drastic fall in the figures prompted a high-level meeting headed by the

Deputy Commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh, where various factors to improve the female population in the district were discussed.

Among the key points discussed included taking strict measures against clinics that conduct illegal abortion of girl foetuses.

Parents who wish for a male child not only frequent illegal abortion clinics in Gurugram, but also in parts of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and even Delhi.

While Haryana, which has been infamous for its poor sex ratio continues to witness improvement, its richest district continues to paint a dismal figure in the improvement of women population.

With respect to sex ratio, Gurugram has for long been at the bottom half, mostly between the 15th and 18 ranks, among the 22 districts of Haryana.

"It is shocking that Gurugram, which has more than 80 percent of literacy rate, continues to have a poor sex ratio. There are certain incidents that have been reported from the city, where the girl foetus is aborted and action is being taken against such clinics and parents," said a senior official from the Women and Child Ministry of Haryana government.

"Another reason causing Gurugram to have such a low sex ratio is because of large scale of migrations that are taking place from the city," the official added.

"Female infanticide has always been a major challenge in south Haryana, not only in the rural parts but also in the urban parts. The District Police is doing its part by penalising the clinics in the city which commit female foeticide," said a senior official of Gurugram Police.

"We have improved a lot but the challenges remain. Mindsets that have been prevailing for a long time cannot be changes instantly. However, with effective carrot stick policing, we hope to achieve our objective," the official further added.