The fourth National Family Health Surveys (NFHS) for 2015-16 showed an increase in the sex ratio at birth (SRB) in India. The SRB, determined as the number of female births for every 1,000 male births, has seen an uptick from 914 to 919. Multiple factors have contributed towards this improvement, but the most noteworthy among these is the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) Scheme.
National Family Health Surveys (NFHS)
Conducted across the country over a span of a year, the NFHS data provides insights into the changing socio-economic and health landscapes of the country. This time around, the findings have pointed to a vital improvement in the area of gender balance – the sex ratio at birth.
Understanding the Sex Ratio at Birth
The sex ratio at birth (SRB) offers vital clues about the state of gender equality in a society. It is primarily determined by measuring the number of female births against every 1,000 male births. In a perfectly balanced scenario, the SRB would lean towards 1,000. Instead, India’s SRB for 2015-16 stood at 919, up from 914 in the preceding period.
The Influence of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) Scheme
One of the major forces contributing to the improved SRB is the nationwide introduction and implementation of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme. Aimed at combating female foeticide and promoting girl child education, it could be argued that the BBBP scheme has started showing positive results.
Discrepancies Across States
However, it is essential to note that the increase in SRB hasn’t been uniform across all states. For instance, Punjab has shown the most substantial improvement with a jump of 126 points. Despite this, the state’s SRB still hovers at a low 860. On the other end of the spectrum, Sikkim showed the sharpest decline of 175 points, ending up with the country’s lowest SRB of 809.
| State | SRB (2015-2016) | Change in Points |
|---|---|---|
| Punjab | 860 | +126 |
| Sikkim | 809 | -175 |
The Surprising Northeast
It is interesting to note that despite the Northeastern societies traditionally being matriarchal, four out of the five states with the highest declines were from this region. This highlights the need for tailored interventions and health schemes that focus on these regions.
