Delhi’s sex ratio has improved as compared to last year. It has increased from 886 females per 1,000 males to 895 per 1,000 in 2013. Delhi Government officials say it is the result of a sustained campaign against female foeticide and the ladli scheme for the protection of the girl child. It is believed that the reported use of Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques is declining in the national Capital.
A total of 3.70 lakh births were registered in 2013 as compared to 3.60 lakh in 2012. This means, on an average 1,014 births were registered per day as against 988 in 2012. Further, the infant mortality rate (per 1,000 live births) decreased from 23.93 during 2012 to 22.37 during 2013.
It may be recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing the nation from the ramparts of Red Fort had exhorted the people not to kill their daughters in the womb. He had also expressed unhappiness over the skewed sex ratio in the country. The Annual Report on Registration of Births and Deaths in Delhi 2013 was released on Friday, which revealed that that sex ratio on birth has increased from 886 in 2012 to 895 in 2013. Delhi’s total population is 1.67 crore.
Officials claimed that the ladli scheme and strict action against female foeticide were the reasons behind the increasing sex ratio in Delhi. In 2001, the sex ratio was 809:1,000 in Delhi. In 2007, it was 848. During 2008, the sex ratio was reversed due to the introduction of the ladli scheme, showing 1,004 females per 1,000 males, which was unprecedented.
When asked, lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung said that the Government has taken several steps in the last few years to increase the sex ratio in the national Capital.
According to the report, the total number of births registered in the city in 2013 was 3.70 lakh, as compared to 3.60 lakh in 2012 and 3.54 lakh during 2011. The average number of births per day works out to 1,014 in 2013 as compared to 988 in 2012. Of the 3.70 lakh total registered births, 1.95 lakh (52.8 per cent) were males and 1.75 lakh (47.2 per cent) were females. About 81.75 per cent (3.02 lakh) were institutional births and the remaining 18.25 per cent (0.67 lakh) were domiciliary births.
Out of the total registered births in Delhi, 34.8 per cent were in North Delhi Municipal Corporation, 32.7 per cent in South Delhi Municipal Corporation, 20.6 per cent in East Delhi Municipal Corporation, 11.1 per cent in New Delhi Municipal Council and 0.80 per cent in Cantonment Board Area. The total number of deaths reduced from 1.05 lakh in 2012 to 97,185 in 2013. Accordingly, average deaths registered per day reduced from 287 to 266 during the corresponding period.
The report said the analysis of major causes of institutional deaths during 2013 as per International Classification of Diseases, reflects that 8.25 per cent deaths were due to septicaemia, 4.47 per cent due to tuberculosis, 4.52 per cent due to disease of the pulmonary circulation and other forms of heart diseases, 4.19 per cent due to shock, 3.19 per cent due to cerebrovascular diseases, 2.82 per cent due to diabetes mellitus, 2.43 per cent due to liver diseases and 2.26 per cent due to pneumonia.
According to officials, the data is collected on a monthly basis from 50 major hospitals which accounts for 50.87 per cent of total registered births in 2013.