Female birth rate dropping in Noida

If Noida birth registration records are to be believed, then the percentage of females compared to males has been declining in both rural areas and urban areas. Chief Medical Officer VK Kanojia has increased inspections against illegal sex determination centres, the Indian Medical Association has planned awareness camps at various sectors and nearby villages. “To check illegal sex determination and abortion of female foetuses, regular inspections are conducted at nursing homes and hospitals. Last year, 35 inspections were done and three doctors were caught in sting operations conducted by private channels. Their cases are pending in the court,” said Kanojia.

The District Health Officer, RK Singhal, told the Hindustan Times, “A decline in the female percentage has been a serious matter of concern. Keeping a check on illegal sex determination cannot be effective unless the society is made aware. Not only rural areas but urban areas too have registered a gap between male and female births.” According to the official data of Noida, in the last five months, 2,798 male births were registered against 2,296 female births. The average difference was 17.96 per cent. In September, against 649 male births the female births reported were 557. In October, 518 female births were registered against 589 male births. Similarly in November, the figure for male births was 537 and 381 for female births. In December, figures for male and female were 537 and 426 respectively. In January, it registered some improvement as against 486 male births, 414 female births were registered.

“As per 2001 census, the male population in Gautam Budha Nagar district was 65,2,819 against 54,9,211 females. The percentage difference of females over males was 15.87 per cent,” said Singhal.

“In rural areas the difference was over 30 per cent in some areas. At Dadri against 225 male births registered in December, the female births registered were 164. In November, 146 male and 102 female birth registrations were done. Similarly in October, the figures registered were 157 male and 114 female births. The percentage difference for October, November and December was 27.38, 30.13, 27.11 respectively,” said Singhal.

Only 51 per cent births were registered in rural areas while in urban over 90 per cent came to light, said Singhal.

The Indian Medical Association president, Dr SP Jain, said, “IMA will organise awareness seminars at various sectors and villages to make the people aware that the girl child is as good as having a male one.”