'Sex ratio at birth' drop in 17 Indian states: NITI Aayog

NITI Aayog's latest release states a drop in sex ratioat birth (SRB) in 17 Indian states.

According to the report, Gujarat recorded the most alarming dip of 53 points, the sex ratio at birth here fell to 854 females from 907 females per 1,000 males born from 2012-14 (base year) to 2013-15.

Gujarat is followed by Haryana, which registered a drop of 35 points. Rajasthan at 32 points followed with Uttarakhand (27 points), Maharashtra (18 points), Himachal Pradesh (14 points), Chhattisgarh (12 points), and Karnataka (11 points) following closely.

NITI Aayog's ‘Healthy States, Progressive India’ report called out for the need to check sex-selective abortion rate.

“There is a clear need for states to effectively implement the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994 and take appropriate measures to promote the value of the girl child,” the report stated.

The report was released last week and noted states like Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to have shown improvement in the SRB.

“Sex ratio at birth is an important indicator and reflects the extent to which there is a reduction in the number of girl children born by sex-selective abortions,” the report noted.

(With inputs from PTI)