Himachal Pradesh Among 10 States With Lowest Child Sex Ratio in India

In India, Himachal Pradesh was among 10 states having the lowest child sex ratio (0-6 years) and 24 panchayats of Una district have alarmingly low (less than 500) sex ratio, Health Minister Kaul Singh Thakur said on Thursday.

Kaul Singh Thakur informed the state assembly that Una was among 100 districts in the country having low sex ratio. The overall sex ratio of 875/1000 in the district, is also lowest in Himachal Pradesh and needs immediate steps to arrest the trend.

He said even the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken note of the alarming scenario in the 24 panchayats of Una district and had already sent notice to the state government seeking a report on the subject. He said Lahaul-Spiti district was on the top with the highest child sex ratio of 1,033 in the country. The state has an overall child sex ratio of 909.

He informed that an owner of an ultra-sound unit has been convicted under PC & PNDT Act. The accused has also been sentenced to one year imprisonment, and slapped a fine of Rs 10,000. Moreover, a state level monitoring committee has been constituted.

The minister said the health department has been keeping a check on the illegal practice of female foeticide going on in border areas of the state. "We are continuously taking it up with the neighbouring Punjab to keep a check on the illegal ultrasound machines being run in Nangal and Hoshiarpur in Punjab," he said.

Source: IANS