In the 2018 report on “vital statistics of India based on the Civil Registration System”, Arunachal Pradesh outperformed all other areas with the best sex ratio at birth in the country. However, not all regions fared so well, with Manipur reporting the worst sex ratio at birth. This information was gathered and collated by the Registrar General of India. The sex ratio at birth is determined by the number of female infants born per thousand male infants, and provides an insight into a population’s gender gap.
About the Registrar General of India
The responsibility for organizing and analyzing demographic surveys in India, such as the Census of India and the Linguistic Survey of India, falls on the Registrar General of India. Founded in 1961 under the Ministry of Home Affairs, the position is often held by a Joint Secretary rank civil servant.
Role of Civil Registration System (CRS) in India
The CRS in India plays a vital role in recording vital events including births, deaths, and stillbirths. This unified, compulsory, and universal system provides essential data for socio-economic planning.
Key Findings
Arunachal Pradesh boasted an impressive figure of 1,084 females born per thousand males, followed by Nagaland (965), Mizoram (964), and Kerala (963). On the other end of the spectrum, Manipur was recorded with the lowest sex ratio at birth (757), followed by Lakshadweep (839), Daman & Diu (877), Punjab (896), and Gujarat (896). Worth noting, Delhi and Haryana recorded sex ratios of 929 and 914 respectively.
Sample Registration System (SRS) Report 2018
The SRS Report 2018 shows a worrying trend of declining sex ratio at birth in India, from 906 in 2011 to 899 in 2018. Surprisingly, this decrease coincided with nearly a tenfold increase in per capita income over the last 65 years. This could be a result of increased literacy and access to sex-selective procedures due to rising income.
Issues Associated with Lower Sex Ratio at Birth
A lower sex ratio at birth brings potential problems such as gender imbalance and distortion in marriage systems, leading to negative implications for both men and women. Some villages in states like Haryana and Punjab, known for their poor sex ratios, have resorted to ‘importing’ brides from other states, often leading to exploitation. In addition to issues of violence and human-trafficking, an adverse child sex ratio also impacts the gender makeup of the entire population.
Improving the Situation
Increasing female education and raising economic prosperity could help improve the sex ratio. The government’s Beti-Bachao Beti Padhao Campaign has been successful in bringing about behavioural changes in society. Furthermore, more focus should be placed on youth sensitization through reproductive health education and services, alongside cultivating gender equity norms. The services of Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) could be effectively utilized, especially in rural areas. Strict enforcement of laws like the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994 is also critical, along with dedicating more resources to tackle the preference for male children.
