As the sex ratio in India has declined from 927 to 914 within a decade, the decreasing number of girls is a major cause of concern for India. Various civil society groups have asked the Centre to determine the root cause behind reducing numbers of female children and take immediate steps to overcome the problem.
Skewed sex ratio is mainly attributed to the socio-cultural attitudes prevalent in India. Technological advancements that make sex determination easy have also added to rise in evil practices like female foeticide. Due to easy escape in cases of female foeticide, sex selective abortion in India has spread far and wide.
Social workers are striving hard for the strict implication of PC and PNDT act (Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Technique Act) that will ensure a three-year jail term and monetary fine to those who violate the norms set by PNDT act. Also it will prosecute doctors who conduct sex determination tests.
As the poor sex ratio is despite of high literacy rates in many states (http://www.d-sector.org/article-det.asp?id=1580), activists too agree to the fact that preference for male child is common among affluent and educated people as well.
It is shameful for a nation that boasts of advancement in the fields of science and technology, to have such an imbalanced sex ratio. The journey of an unborn female child directly from womb to tomb is a blot on our society and to improve the situation every citizen will have to take responsibility.
