Capital shows an alarming decline in child sex ratio. The adverse gender balance is a telling manifestation of the intrinsic flaw in our social system that shows an obvious tilt in favour of the male child. We may justifiably crow over being an IT super power and one of the fastest developing countries. But amid all the pomp and the pagentry, the very fact that the country represents the lowest child sex ratio in the world should be a sobering thought. The rapidly declining sex ratio is threatening to turn into a demographic ordeal with alarming proportions. Even as, there were 3.2 million fewer women than men in 1901 in India, this deficit later increased tenfold to 35 million, as acknowledged by the 2001 census report. This decline is especially more in the age group of 0 - 6 years. For instance, the sex ratio nosedived in this age group from 1010 in 1941 to 927 in 2001. Illegal sex selection and female foeticide are reported to have claimed upto about 50 million female lives.

While the national average for India in the 0 - 6 age group is 927 / 1000, there are many states within the country where the ratio has dropped well below 900 girls to 1000 boys. The findings of a recent study conducted by an NGO, Centre for Social Research (CSR) indicating an alarmingly low sex ratio in the capital is a case in point. The study that has been funded by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare reveals that the sex ratio in the 0 - 6 age group has declined from 912 / 1000 to 886 / 1000, as documented by the 1991 and 2001 census repots respectively in the swanky South Delhi area. The three localities selected for the CSR study - Punjabi Bagh, Narela, Najafgarh, present a more shocking picture by recording the lowest sex ratio in the city. While Punjabi Bagh shows a sex ratio of 842 / 1000 Najafgarh and Narela trail behind with a ratio of 828 / 1000 and 841 / 1000.This is symptomatic of old mindsets even among the educated and elite who look upon the birth of a girl child as a curse that has fallen upon them due to bad karma in their last birth. The CSR study is the most realistic indicator of the quest for a male child which seems to be higher among the economically and educationally advanced sections of our society. In their biased preference for the male child, they are prepared to go to any lengths - be it sex-selective abortions, taking medication and observing religious ceremonies to ensure the birth of a son. This has been corroborated by the findings of the CSR study. That the most economically prosperous regions present an even grimmer picture stays put the old argument that blames growing poverty for the adverse sex ratio.

While several reasons can be attributed to the decline in the number of girls, systemic gender discrimination in India continues to be an issue of concern. Women, often branded as the ''second sex'' or the ''weaker sex'' by the male dominated society, do not often have access to proper education and nutritious diet at par with their male siblings. The girl child has to contend with discrimination every day of her life. The patriarchal Indian society not only imposes restrictions depriving her of equal opportunity to develop inherent capabilities but also makes her suffer oppression at every step of her life.

The report has also expressed concern over the cultural preference for a male child that drives many across the caste and social standing to the mushrooming sex determination and abortion clinics. Old customs and traditions that prefer only a son to perform the last rites as well as to carry the family name have been cited as the principal reasons behind this bias.

Besides, the study attributes the decline in the sex ratio to the ancient mindset that views the girl child as a burden that has to be supported for life, be it her education, heavy dowry demand from in-laws or a continuing supply of gifts once she is married. Moreover, the attitude towards a daughter who has to leave home anyway after marriage and thus cannot support her parents in old age also goes against the female child putting pressure over the would be parents to run to the nearest sex selection clinic.

There is no denying that besides neglect of the girl child, low status of women in society, age old traditions and high maternal mortality, the most vital contributor to declining sex ratio in India is the widespread prevalence of female infanticide and foeticide. While in rural areas, it is customary to kill the newborn girls, the affluent regions take recourse to female foeticide. Sex selective abortions are in vogue despite a horde of legal regulations banning the same. According to the CSR report, the rampant misuse of diagnostic tools has greatly contributed to the sex selective abortions in Delhi and the consequent low sex ratio. Modern technology like Amniocentesis that proved to be a boon for identifying genetic abnormalities have become tools of death for the unborn female foetuses. This has also been reiterated by the CSR Director Ranjana Kumari , who says '' the easy availability of ultra sonography machines have made sex determination procedures convenient and quacks have been abusing this method. Female foeticide has become a rampant practice, where even well-known clinics and hospitals are involved but little can be done without the government's ''intervention''. Poor implementation of pre-conception techniques has also been one of the major reasons for the present state of conditions. Though there have been a myriad of policies but the proof of the pudding lies in its implementation. That is where we have fallen so woefully short. The Indian Medical Association Reports that more than 5 million foetuses are aborted every year.

Though the Govt. of India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has undertaken several measures to implement the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Technique Act, but obviously the legislature has proved to be ineffective. Besides, spiritual leaders have been roped into to spread the message. Programmes on girl child and sex selection have also been aired from private and national channels. Popular faces have also been used by the government in its '' Save the girl child campaign'' But the apathetic attitude of administration together with poor legislative implementation has not led to the desired results.

India has to go a long way in caring for the girl child and ensuring its basic right to live. There is a dire need to overhaul the strategies in order to correct the gender balance. But first and foremost, the society needs to change its attitude. The people need to be sensitised towards women. That the security and destiny of a nation
rests in the wellbeing of its womenfolk goes without saying.

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