JK’s Sex Ratio At Birth Better Than National Average: NHM Director

SRINAGAR: The sex ratio at birth in Jammu and Kashmir is better than the national average, while sex determination is being regulated through effective implementation of the PCPNDT Act, NHM Director Ayushi Sudan said on Saturday.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of an event in Srinagar, she said that the sex ratio in J&K is definitely better than the national average because of social factors.

“There is still a need for capacity building for the Pre-conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (prohibition of sex selection) Act, 1994 and the main aim of the act is to prohibit sex determination, especially at the time of prenatal diagnosis,” Sudan said.

She added that gender bias and sex determination are critical public health concerns, which are being regulated through effective implementation of the PCPNDT Act, for which a comprehensive action strategy has been devised and monitored. “There is a need for capacity building of our stakeholders so that this act can be handled in a better and more effective way. With better understanding, we are hopeful of further improvement in the future,” she said.

Sudan also stated that streamlining the PCPNDT Act is only one aspect to improve the sex ratio, but there are several other aspects like women empowerment and different programs that can help in further improvement of the sex ratio at birth in J&K. “With women’s empowerment, there will be further improvement in the future,” she said.

Notably, as per the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), the sex ratio at birth for children born (females per 1,000 males) has increased from 923 in 2015-2016 to 976 in 2019-2020. As per the NFHS-5 data, against the national average of 929 girl children born for every 1,000 boys, J&K has 976 girl children born for every 1,000 boys. The urban areas have a slight edge over rural pockets, with 978 girl children born for every 1,000 boys in urban areas, while the rate was 976 in rural areas, she added. (KNO)