With a view to equal male-female sex ratio in the State, the Gujarat Government will on Thursday celebrate International Women’s Day by gifting 5-gram silver coin to all the girl-child born.
Sex ratio at birth in the State has fallen from 911 to 848 females against 1,000 males in the State over the past few years, said Dr Jayanti Ravi, Gujarat’s Health Commissioner adding, “The sex ratio needs to be equal for male and female for all round development particularly in the socio-economic sector. As per the report of sample registration system prepared by the Registrar General of India, the sex ratio at birth in Gujarat reduced to 854 in 2015 and further reduced to 84 in 2016.”
According to her the Gujarat Government had taken the data published by Government of India seriously and decided to address the issue by welcoming the daughters. Every year March 8 is being celebrated as International Women’s Day globally and Gujarat will celebrate the day in a novel way to create awareness among the people.
“As part of the celebration all the girl child born on March 8, 2018 will be provided with flowers and sweets. Gujarat Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Ministers, Ministers, bureaucrats and elected representatives will visit the houses of girl child born on the day and provide silver coin with the symbol of laxmi and Saraswati along with Mamata Kit in which things related to mothers and newly born will be given,” she said.
Moreover with a view to create awareness on the issue personal appeal from the CM and the Dy CM will be made to all the social organisations, religious and elected leaders. Apart from organising discussions on social forums, State Government would plan workshops for Gynaecologists, Radiologists and Members of Indian Medical Association to sensitize and create awareness on the issue.
According to Dr Ravi, the State Government would also take efforts to prevent prenatal diagnosis and abortion of girl child under the PC & PNDT Act, 1994. All registered clinics in the State have been mandated to enter the data about each solography on the BetiVadhavo portal.
The data entered on the portal is monitored at the State and district level and in case of any suspicious activities notices would be issued to such clinics.