Concerned over the dismal sex ratio in Odisha, a leading social organisation on Tuesday set up a State-level advocacy panel to campaign against the adverse sex ratio.
“The ActionAid, which has been working on the project Kanyaratna since 2012 and has renamed it as Beti Zindabad in 2013, has been working for combating the adverse sex ratio,” said its key contact person Sudeshna Mishra.
Speaking to reporters, Mishra announced the formation of the advocacy panel in which eminent persons from various walks of life have been empanelled to further the cause of the organisation. Till date, Mishra said, a massive sensitisation programme has been undertaken for proper implementation of the PCPNDT Act all over the State in terms of poster painting, debate, encouraging parents of newborn girl child through felicitations and formation of protection committees in new districts. Mishra also pointed out that although according to the 2011 Census the sex ratio in the State marginally went up to 978 among adults, the child (0-6) sex ratio came down to 934, which is a cause of concern.
“The lowest sex ratio of 916 is recorded in the district of Nayagarh district during 2011 Census. The situations in the districts like Khordha, Dhenkanal, Angul and ganjam are very disquieting,” she informed.