Sex ratio shows signs of recovery

Haryana, long plagued by its skewed sex ratio and deep-rooted patriarchal mindset, is showing early signs of course correction, thanks to a vigorous crackdown by the State Task Force (STF). Constituted in March this year under the Health Department, the STF was formed after the state’s sex ratio fell by six points in 2024 (910/1000) compared to 2023 (916/1000).

Now, mid-year, officials are cautiously optimistic. Backed by a multi-pronged strategy of raids, decoy operations and licence cancellations, the STF appears to be plugging loopholes in the system. The first signs of improvement are visible on the ground.

A major breakthrough came with the sharp dip in the sale of Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) kits. From nearly 40,000 kits sold in March, the number has dropped to less than 400 as of June.

“This crackdown has met with tremendous success. We monitored the progress from March to June and saw the numbers go down from 40,763 to 30,877 in one month, and the downward spiral continued. In June, only 386 kits were sold. This data is based on reports from wholesalers, compiled by the Food and Drugs Authority,” said GL Singhal, consultant, Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Programme.

The STF has also clamped down on illegal MTP centres. From approximately 1,500 such centres operating when the task force was formed, just over 1,000 remain today. Many were shut down after raids; others voluntarily withdrew their applications.

“Chemists have been issued strict directives — MTP kits will only be sold on prescription by a gynaecologist from a registered MTP centre. Any violation will make them directly accountable,” said Dr Virender Yadav, convener, State Task Force.

Additionally, IVF centres have been instructed to seek prior permission for genetic testing, especially in cases involving women with one or two girl children.

To monitor pregnancies more closely, ASHA workers have been engaged as ‘Sahelis’, tasked with keeping a close watch on women with existing daughters.

This heightened surveillance is bearing fruit. Abortions after 12 weeks — the stage at which a foetus’s sex can typically be determined — have dropped significantly. The average monthly figure has fallen from over 4,000 to 2,300.

Alongside enforcement, the government is also promoting positive community engagement. Across the state, 12,796 ‘godh bharai’ ceremonies (traditional baby showers) and 3,822 ‘kuan pujan’ rituals (to celebrate the birth of a girl child) have been held to shift societal perception.

Haryana’s struggles with sex ratio are well-documented, although there was a brief upward trend after Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao programme from Panipat in 2015. The sex ratio improved from 871/1000 in 2015 to 922/1000 by 2020, but dipped again in 2021 to 914/1000.

Despite recent gains, the Health Department hasn’t set specific recovery targets. However, those involved in implementation remain hopeful.

“We haven’t fixed a numerical target, but there is optimism. The sex ratio could reach nearly 920/1000 by year-end. Recovery has started — now sustainability is key,” quipped officials involved in the campaign.

Haryana Tribune