Despite continued focus of State government on 'ladli laxmis' of the State, the survival of girl-child in the State is increasingly bleak, as reflected in the Primary Census Abstract released here on Monday.
According to the Census-2011 data, the child sex ratio (0-6 years) in the State has come down from 932 to 918, a 14-point decline since the last census. This is the lowest child sex ratio recorded since 1981 in the State. Although the decline is more pronounced in rural areas, where it has come down to 923 from 939, the situation remains grim even in urban areas with child sex ratio coming down from 907 to 901.
Morena is the worst district in terms of child sex ratio recording a ratio of 829 in rural as well urban areas. The best district in terms of rural child sex ratio is Alirajpur with 978 and in urban areas the best ratio is in Dindori at 998.
Child sex ratio has taken a dip even in the State capital where it has come down from 925 in 2001 to 920 in 2011. The decline is more pronounced in urban areas where it has recorded a 10-point dip from 928 to 918.
Notably, the adverse child sex ratio has been considered by many as an indicator of high prevalence of sex-selective foeticide and female-infanticide.
The evidence of high level of threat to life of girl child is also revealed by the fact that the Census has recorded a decrease in female child population to of 29,144 between 2001 and 2011. During the same period, male child population has increased by 56,325.
Commenting on the worsening condition of girl child in the State, Shilpi, a gender activist working with NGO Bitiya in the city, said "the data is indeed shocking, especially the poor condition in urban areas. It is not female foeticide or infanticide but an ongoing female genocide. The problem is that the very people responsible for saving the girl child are complicit in eliminating her along with doctors. The problem is changing mindset towards girl child."
Notably, releasing the Census data, former civil servant MN Buch said that no ladli laxmi Yojnas would work if the trend continues. Until and unless such people who kill girl child are hanged, the situation would not change, he added.