Indian census – child sex ratio is pathetic

The latest, 2011 India census data has pegged India’s population to 1.21 billion which is 17.6% more than the last decade.

The data also paints a grim picture of child sex ratio which has gone down to 914:1000, the lowest since 1947. The two earlier census, i.e., in 1991 and 2001 has shown sex ratios of 927:1000 and 933:1000 respectively in the Indian population. The child sex ratio was 976:1000 in the census of 1961. Sex ratio is defined as the number of females per thousand males. It is an important and useful indicator to assess relative excess of deficit of men or women in a given population at that point of time.

Incidentally, Haryana State in India has developed districts such as Gurgoan and Sonipet with low child sex ratios of 853:1000 and 861:1000 respectively. The lowest sex ratio in the state is 774:1000 in Jhajjar. It is pathetic to say the least! Sex ratio is found to be better among backward classes and the poor.

Sex differentials can be due to difference in mortality rate, migration, sex selective abortion, etc. This is of grave concern as the country is already grappling with gender discrimination and female foeticide/infanticide issues.

The outcome of such a terrible imbalanced situation can be increased number of rapes, increased prostitution, increase in the sexually transmitted diseases, increased number of divorces and for a common man: increased difficulty in finding girls for marriages. Ladki Kanhase Ayegi?