Despite stringent anti-female foeticide laws and massive awareness programmes, the sex ratio of girls is on a decline across the State.
If the trend continues, Odisha boys will soon find it tough to find life partners as is the case in Haryana. According to records, last year the sex ratio in the State was 880 girls per 1,000 boys. In 2010, the number of girls went up to 911 against 1,000 boys. The ratio was 902 in 2011, 896 in 2012 and 890 in 2013. The ratio is declining in all the 30 districts.
According to data received from Civil Registration System (CRS) sources, the girl child ratio was 725 per 1000 boys in Kendrapada last year. In Ganjam, it was 790. The adverse sex ratio not only indicates poor social health but also poses a barrier in attaining sustainable social development. According to the census report, the sex ratio of girls in Odisha is 978 per 1,000 boys. Some districts, where the number of girls has risen considerably compared to other 20 districts, are backward and tribal belts.
The 1991 census reported the sex ratio of girls 971 per 1,000 boys. In 2001, it went up to 972. Data show that the sex ratio is declining in considerably literate districts like Khordha, Nayagarh, Puri, Jharsuguda, Jajpur, Jagatsinghpur, Gajapati, Dhenkanal, Cuttack, Balangir and Baleswar where the newborn female child number is less than 900 per boys.
However, the number of girls has risen considerably in tribal districts. The number of females was 967 in Nuapada district, the highest in the State, followed by Nabarangpur (962), Subarnapur (960) and Rayagada (950).
Other districts where the sex ratio was between 900 and 950 are Angul, Bargarh, Bhadrak, Boudh, Deogarh, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Keonjhar, Koraput, Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj, Sambalpur and Sundargarh.
As Nayagarh recorded the least number of females in the last census, the district has been included under the Prime Minister’s ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ campaign. However, the situation is alarming in other districts of the State.