Mumbai is justifiably proud to celebrate the recent surge in the birth of girl child but the trend, unfortunately, is not consistent with rest of India. The 2015-2016 National Family Health Survey (NFHS) findings show that India&rsquo;s &ldquo;Tinseltown&rdquo;, along with five other Maharashtrian cities, has crossed the shining mark of 1000 girl child. Thus, the coveted quantitative equality between the male and female population has been reached there. However, a closer look at the NFHS report, beyond the narrow confines of city limits, reveals a different story. A story that is grim and more consistent with India&rsquo;s past record of low sex ratio for girls. 
 
The decrease is most stark when we consider the sex ratio of the total population, and not only data on children. Indian states of Maharashtra, Assam, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka, to name a few, show a decline in the number of recorded females. Optimists may point out that, except the states of Haryana and Madhya Pradesh, all the above mentioned states exhibit a &ldquo;healthy&rdquo; sex-ratio of more than 950 females per 1000 men. But the most disconcerting aspect of the issue is that, instead of improving, or at least holding on to past achievements, these states are all sliding, as is evident when we compare the present with the situation a decade back. 
 
Contrary to popular assumption that female-male sex ratio is skewed more in rural India, it is in the urban milieu that we see a sinking number of females.This is equally true for the BIMARU states of Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, and not so obvious states of Assam and Karnataka. It is particularly disconcerting to see the Indian state of Assam in the list because the north-eastern parts of India have been traditionally known to have a favourable sex-ratio for girls. 
 
This declining rate of girl child and women in the national population have created an all-round anxiety. Nobel Prize-winning economist Amartya Sen has coined the term &ldquo;missing women&rdquo; to underline how silently, imperceptibly, albeit dangerously, an increasing number of women are lost through sex-selective abortions, female infanticide, inadequate health care and undernutrition. The Indian census data of 2011 on male-female ratio vindicates Sen&rsquo;s theory. 
 
According to the 2011 Indian census report, there were 943 females for every 1000 males - a gap of 57 person. Instead of the ideal 1:1 ratio, this number implies that 5.70 per cent of India&rsquo;s 1.311 billion population is &ldquo;missing&rdquo;. This sums up to a staggering number of 37,363,500 missing women. 
 
While India&rsquo;s shining image of an economic superpower is projected worldwide, its female population by and large continue to suffer from various forms of discrimination, neglect and even violence. Perhaps, the most repulsive aspect of the whole story is that much of the violence against Indian women, which translates into a skewed sex ratio, largely stems from the intimate circle of family members. While the Indian state watch helplessly. 
 
(WION)

National survey shows demographic trends for females in India are worrying, but sometimes in subtle and imperceptible ways

Mumbai is justifiably proud to celebrate the recent surge in the birth of girl child but the trend, unfortunately, is not consistent with rest of India. The 2015-2016 National Family Health Survey (NFHS) findings show that India’s “Tinseltown”, along with five other Maharashtrian cities, has crossed the shining mark of 1000 girl child. Thus, the coveted quantitative equality between the male and female population has been reached there. However, a closer look at the NFHS report, beyond the narrow confines of city limits, reveals a different story. A story that is grim and more consistent with India’s past record of low sex ratio for girls. The decrease is most stark when we consider the sex ratio of the total population, and not only data on children. Indian states of Maharashtra, Assam, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka, to name a few, show a decline in the number of recorded females. Optimists may point out that, except the states of Haryana and Madhya Pradesh, all the above mentioned states exhibit a “healthy” sex-ratio of more than 950 females per 1000 men. But the most disconcerting aspect of the issue is that, instead of improving, or at least holding on to past achievements, these states are all sliding, as is evident when we compare the present with the situation a decade back. Contrary to popular assumption that female-male sex ratio is skewed more in rural India, it is in the urban milieu that we see a sinking number of females.This is equally true for the BIMARU states of Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, and not so obvious states of Assam and Karnataka. It is particularly disconcerting to see the Indian state of Assam in the list because the north-eastern parts of India have been traditionally known to have a favourable sex-ratio for girls. This declining rate of girl child and women in the national population have created an all-round anxiety. Nobel Prize-winning economist Amartya Sen has coined the term “missing women” to underline how silently, imperceptibly, albeit dangerously, an increasing number of women are lost through sex-selective abortions, female infanticide, inadequate health care and undernutrition. The Indian census data of 2011 on male-female ratio vindicates Sen’s theory. According to the 2011 Indian census report, there were 943 females for every 1000 males - a gap of 57 person. Instead of the ideal 1:1 ratio, this number implies that 5.70 per cent of India’s 1.311 billion population is “missing”. This sums up to a staggering number of 37,363,500 missing women. While India’s shining image of an economic superpower is projected worldwide, its female population by and large continue to suffer from various forms of discrimination, neglect and even violence. Perhaps, the most repulsive aspect of the whole story is that much of the violence against Indian women, which translates into a skewed sex ratio, largely stems from the intimate circle of family members. While the Indian state watch helplessly. (WION)

Study reveals Indian women still 'missing'

It&#39;s tough work being available in a hyper-connected world like ours. Communication has moved beyond inter-personal conversations with friends, family and acquaintances on social media to larger groups whose members may live in your city, or who share the same interests or situations as you do. In fact, Whatsapp groups and Facebook communities seem to have become part and parcel of our lives in a way that seemed unimaginable at the start of the millennium.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Conversations on these platforms have blurred the lines between personal communication and public disclosure. For some being part of these dialogues seems invasive and a compromise on privacy. For others, the anonymity is empowering. One group of people in the latter category appears to be Indian housewives. &nbsp; 
 
Whatsapp groups created by and for stay-at-home mothers and homemakers are common in urban centres like New Delhi. In reality, these women may live a few doors apart from each other but their association remains virtual. This metaphorical separation has created a safe space for a number of them, a platform where they can share hopes, fears and, sometimes, deep, dark secrets that have been dying for an outlet free of judgment. &nbsp; 
 
To be able to speak from behind the screen of virtual anonymity seems to make it easier to ask questions about fidelity, sexuality, love and depression. The responses cover a broad spectrum, from empathy to disdain and much more in between. In fact, the answers to certain questions and the discussions that follow some confessions are often more compelling than what got the conversation started in the first place. &nbsp; 
 
A query on losing weight post-pregnancy can throw up comments advocating confidence in the contours of a mother&#39;s body and scathing reviews of the negative body-images portrayed by the media. It can also prompt comments observations on how weight-loss is essential to keeping the romance alive in matrimony. &nbsp; 
 
All in all, as innocuous as these communities may seem, they demand a certain fortitude from their participants; either as observers offering advice or as the ones asking for it. The absence of a &quot;real&quot; relationship with these women is empowering in that it can reaffirm some of your beliefs and calm some of your concerns. But, you need to be open to receiving unwanted criticism and judgment from those you don&#39;t know; advice that can be as difficult to digest as it would have been coming from someone you really do know.&nbsp;

New communication help housewives share deeply personal things in ways unthinkable just years ago, but it can be tough too

It's tough work being available in a hyper-connected world like ours. Communication has moved beyond inter-personal conversations with friends, family and acquaintances on social media to larger groups whose members may live in your city, or who share the same interests or situations as you do. In fact, Whatsapp groups and Facebook communities seem to have become part and parcel of our lives in a way that seemed unimaginable at the start of the millennium. Conversations on these platforms have blurred the lines between personal communication and public disclosure. For some being part of these dialogues seems invasive and a compromise on privacy. For others, the anonymity is empowering. One group of people in the latter category appears to be Indian housewives. Whatsapp groups created by and for stay-at-home mothers and homemakers are common in urban centres like New Delhi. In reality, these women may live a few doors apart from each other but their association remains virtual. This metaphorical separation has created a safe space for a number of them, a platform where they can share hopes, fears and, sometimes, deep, dark secrets that have been dying for an outlet free of judgment. To be able to speak from behind the screen of virtual anonymity seems to make it easier to ask questions about fidelity, sexuality, love and depression. The responses cover a broad spectrum, from empathy to disdain and much more in between. In fact, the answers to certain questions and the discussions that follow some confessions are often more compelling than what got the conversation started in the first place. A query on losing weight post-pregnancy can throw up comments advocating confidence in the contours of a mother's body and scathing reviews of the negative body-images portrayed by the media. It can also prompt comments observations on how weight-loss is essential to keeping the romance alive in matrimony. All in all, as innocuous as these communities may seem, they demand a certain fortitude from their participants; either as observers offering advice or as the ones asking for it. The absence of a "real" relationship with these women is empowering in that it can reaffirm some of your beliefs and calm some of your concerns. But, you need to be open to receiving unwanted criticism and judgment from those you don't know; advice that can be as difficult to digest as it would have been coming from someone you really do know.

Modern technology has enabled badly-needed intimacy between perfect strangers

<div>Reserve Bank of India chief Raghuram Rajan on Monday defended his record in fighting inflation, and made a case for the&nbsp;monetary policy reforms he has championed, in his first public appearance since announcing that&nbsp;he will step down at the end of his tenure in September. 
 
In a speech, the outgoing&nbsp;governor of India&#39;s central bank, Reserve Bank of India,&nbsp;addressed critics who have accused him of keeping interest rates too high, saying they cannot &quot;have it both ways, want lower inflation as well as lower policy rates.&quot; 
 
 
&quot;The fact that inflation is fairly close to the upper bound of our target zone today suggests we have not been overly hawkish&nbsp;and were wise to disregard advice in the past to cut more deeply,&quot; Rajan said.</div>

<div> 
Consumer inflation hit a near two-year high of 5.76 per cent in May, or the upper end of the central bank&#39;s inflation target of 2 per cent to 6 per cent. 
 
Rajan also strongly defended the upcoming introduction of a monetary policy panel to set interest rates,&nbsp;a policy he has championed,&nbsp;saying &quot;the rewards will be many&quot;, including a more stable policy framework. 
 
(Reuters)</div>

Tells critics of his monetary policy reforms they can't have it 'both ways'

Reserve Bank of India chief Raghuram Rajan on Monday defended his record in fighting inflation, and made a case for the monetary policy reforms he has championed, in his first public appearance since announcing that he will step down at the end of his tenure in September. In a speech, the outgoing governor of India's central bank, Reserve Bank of India, addressed critics who have accused him of keeping interest rates too high, saying they cannot "have it both ways, want lower inflation as well as lower policy rates." "The fact that inflation is fairly close to the upper bound of our target zone today suggests we have not been overly hawkish and were wise to disregard advice in the past to cut more deeply," Rajan said. Consumer inflation hit a near two-year high of 5.76 per cent in May, or the upper end of the central bank's inflation target of 2 per cent to 6 per cent. Rajan also strongly defended the upcoming introduction of a monetary policy panel to set interest rates, a policy he has championed, saying "the rewards will be many", including a more stable policy framework. (Reuters)

Out not down: Indian central bank governor Raghuram Rajan defends his record

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