Srinagar, May 16 (Scoop News) – In a clarion call to the civil society in general and religious, political and social leaders in particular, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah has sought coordinated and well-knit approach to address the deep concern of female feticide and girl child sex ratio decline in the State.
“The drastic decline in the male-female ratio in the 0-6 age group of children observed in the census 2011 in the State has indicated the districts of Kashmir division as badly hit. The data has shaken the sane elements, giving rise urgency to properly deal with this most damaging phenomenon gripping the society in its clutches”, the Chief Minister said showing his deep concern about this tendency.
Chairing a high level meeting, the Chief Minister called here to sensitize the administration to take measure and start a mass movement in this regard, Omar Abdullah said that Government alone cannot make the necessary dent on this count.
“It is civil society as a whole, and religious, political and social activists in particular who have to play their part and make the people aware of this crime”, he said adding that administration would do whatever possible to identify the criminals and punish them appropriately. “However, the punishment of Almighty for those indulging in this immoral and sinful activity is heavy and eternal”, he asserted.
The Chief Minister said that Imams of Masajids, Priests in Churches, Pujaries in Temples, Granthies in Gurudawaras have to sensitize the public through sermons and political and social leaders though mass contact programmes have to create awareness about the ill effects and far-reaching consequences of the female feticide and decline in girl child sex ratio.
Omar Abdullah directed for activating State Level Supervisory Board to meet quarterly for taking regular appraisal of this concern. He also directed for studying methods put in place by the neighbouring States to arrest this menace and replicating these in the State. “The copying of such mechanisms should not be the only focus. We should also think over innovative measures by ourselves to suit our conditions and be fruitful in dealing with the crisis”, he added.
The Chief Minister also directed for re-constituting Divisional and District Level Advisory Committees urgently which can meet bi-monthly on the subject. He highlighted the role of Panchayats in this direction and said that Panchayat Raj system can be effectively utilized to address this concern.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Health, Shyam Lal Sharma, Minister for Medical Education, R. S. Chib, Chief Secretary, Madhav Lal, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, B. B. Vyas, Commissioner Secretary Health, Suresh Kumar, Deputy Commissioners from various districts and other senior officers.
In a PowerPoint presentation the Director National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), Dr. Yash Pal Sharma gave details of the data relating to the female feticide and decline in girl child sex ratio vis-à-vis boys in the age group of 0-6 years.
He said as against national average ratio of 914 girls against 1000 boys, the district of Rajouri has shown 870, Poonch 895, Kishtwar 922, Ramban 931, Reasi 921, Doda 932, Udhampur 887, Jammu 795, Kathua 836, Samba 787, Pulwama 836, Budgam 832, Kupwara 854, Ganderbal 836, Anantnag 832, Shopian 883, Kulgam 882, Baramulla 886, Bandipora 893, Srinagar 869, Leh 944 and Kargil district 878 while in J&K as a whole it is 889 girl child against 1000 boys.
He also gave details of the steps underway to address this concern. He presented a resume of other initiatives taken under the PC&PNDT Act against the clinics and the persons indulging immoral activity of female feticide.
He said as many as 24 unauthorized ultrasound clinics have been seized in Jammu division and 64 in Kashmir division this year.