Skewed gender ratio in 0-6 age group in Udupi a big concern

 

Udupi, 02 Jun 2013 (TOI): If Kerala is a model for the country with a gender ratio of 1000:1084, Udupi district is a model for the state with a gender ratio of 1000:1093. The gender ratio in Udupi district was 1000:1130 in 2001, but dipped over the passage of time.

 

What is alarming is the fact that the number of girl children in the age group of 0-6 years is decreasing in Udupi. Their number is 955 for 1,000 boys for this age group. This was 958 for 1,000 boys in 2001. District health department sources said there is no case of illegal abortion, but employed couples are opting to have only one child if the first child is a boy and this could have contributed to decrease in number of girls.

 

Noted writer Vaidehi told that though health department officials claim to have rooted out abortion cases, in reality it’s being carried out covertly. She added that in recent times parents are upset by the frequent incidents of rape which have made them afraid to have a girl child. Parents say some doctors have even given them counseling on why they should only have a boy child.

 

All these scenarios have resulted in imbalance of social norms, she noted and added that if the fear that women fraternity faces in this contemporary world is addressed, the gender ratio will be far less skewed for this age group.