19,000 more girls born in 2008 in Delhi: Govt report

For the first time in a decade, Delhi has recorded a positive sex ratio, up from 822 in 2005 to an impressive 1,004 in 2008, according to a government report released in New Delhi.

For the first time in a decade, Delhi has recorded a positive sex ratio, up from 822 in 2005 to an impressive 1,004 in 2008, according to a government report released in New Delhi on Tuesday.

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Crediting the numbers to the state government's Ladli scheme - which provides incentives to parents throughout the girl's education - the report said almost 19,000 more girls were born in Delhi in 2008 than the year before.

Titled "Annual Report on Births and Deaths in Delhi-2008", the report was released by Delhi Finance Minster AK Walia and prepared by the Directorate of Economics and Statistics and Office of the Chief Registrar.

While lauding the government's efforts to check infanticide and foeticide, Waila said "however the fact remains that despite our best efforts, 40 per cent births in Delhi happen at home and our emphasis is on encouraging expectant parents to come to hospitals for better birth rate.

"Nevertheless, now under the Ladli scheme, parents are coming forward to register girl child birth with us."

Under the scheme, the government deposits Rs 5,000 each at the time of admission to class I, VI, IX, X and XII. The money is kept as a long-term fixed deposit in the name of the child who can encash it when she turns 18.

As per the report, numbers of total female births registered increased from 1.48 lakh in 2007 to 1.67 lakh in 2008. Overall, Delhi registered 3.34 lakh births that include 1,66,583 male (49.89 per cent) and 1,67,325 female (50.11 per cent) in 2008.