Another initiative to improve sex ratio — park rallies

In a renewed push to improve the sex ratio in Haryana, the Health and Women and Child Development Departments have launched an intensified statewide ‘Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao’ campaign. As part of this initiative, awareness rallies and marches are being organised in public parks across the state.

Each rally displays banners featuring the sex ratio of the respective district, aimed at fostering public engagement and strengthening the social message of valuing the girl child.

Additionally, the Women and Child Development Department is also undertaking campaigns on social media handles of all Deputy Commissioners to amplify the message.

Haryana’s sex ratio improved to 906 from January 1 to June 30, 2025 — up from 904 in the corresponding period last year.

This information was given today during the weekly meeting of the State Task Force (STF) for Improving Sex Ratio in Haryana, which was chaired by Sudhir Rajpal, Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare. The meeting focused on intensifying efforts to curb illegal abortions and further improve the sex ratio.

Rajpal mandated intensified enforcement against illegal abortions, with a clear directive for officials to pursue strict punitive action, including cancellation of licence for doctors found complicit. In one such recent case, a hospital in Hisar had its MTP (Medical Termination of Pregnancy) licence revoked.

He directed officials to organise birth registration camps in economically disadvantaged areas. He emphasised the need for widespread public awareness campaigns to inform residents about these drives and ensure that all unregistered children were brought into the official system. The Programme Officers concerned were told to compile lists of unregistered children in consultation with local anganwadi workers by next week.

He also emphasised enhanced surveillance of Community Health Centres and held Senior Medical Officers accountable for any illegal practices reported in their jurisdictions. He warned that non-compliant SMOs would face disciplinary action, including being barred from leaving their stations, and directed the creation of a blacklist for such officers.

The officials were also directed to keep surveillance on suspected IVF centres and intensify action and raids in the districts falling behind in sex ratio.

He also called for strengthened inter-district coordination with Delhi, Punjab, and Rajasthan, particularly in border areas where residents may be accessing such services outside Haryana.

Haryana Tribune