NEW DELHI : The Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry is in the process of setting up a `National Support and Monitoring Cell' to curb female foeticide. The cell will serve as a mechanism to help authorities apprehend those involved in carrying out or abetting female foeticide.

The sex ratio has declined from 972 in 1901 to 927 in 1991. The child sex ratio for the age group of 0-6 in 2001 is 927 girls per thousand boys against 945 recorded in the 1991 Census.

Preference for son

The low levels are attributed to son preference, neglect of the girl child resulting in higher mortality at younger age, female infanticide, female foeticide, and male bias in enumeration of population. Imbalance in the ratio can lead to a further decline in the status of women, increase in violence against women, and polyandry.

The Ministry has undertaken training of people from State Judicial Academies to sensitise the judiciary on the issue. A National Inspection and Monitoring Committee with representatives from the Ministry of Women and Child Development, National Commission for Women, Indian Council for Medical Research as members, undertakes periodical visits to the districts with low child sex ratio (0-6 years) to oversee the implementation of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act at the ground level and monitors the prosecutions launched against unregistered bodies and those violating the Act.

Legislation not enough

It is, however, recognised that mere legislation is not enough to deal with this problem rooted in social behaviour and prejudices. A number of activities to create awareness on the issue are being undertaken.

The initiatives include meeting organisations working against sex selection, involvement of medical professionals, religious leaders to spread the message, requesting police training academies and schools to include the issue in their curriculum, telecasting of video spots on private satellite channels and Doordarshan, and involving elected representatives.

A `Save the Girl Child' campaign to lessen son preference by highlighting the achievements of young girls has been launched.

District Magistrates have also been requested to regularly review the implementation of the PNDT Act along with health programmes.

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