Declining child sex ratio in Odisha sets alarm bells ringing

The child sex ratio has shown a declining trend in Odisha while the dip is quite alarming in seven districts, as per the report of the Health department. 

The report says there are 925 girl children at birth for every 1,000 boys in the state while the sex ratio has been abysmally low at put at 8:10 in Nayagarh, Ganjam, Cuttack, Subarnapur, Jagatsinghpur, Dhenkanal and Jharsuguda.  

While the country is celebrating National Girl Child Day on Wednesday, such a disconcerting sex ratio in Odisha has raised concerns.

Speaking to the media, the Director of the Health and Family Welfare Department, Bijay Panigrahy said, "We need to sensitise all about the importance of girl children in society. The number of girl children is declining and it is a matter of concern. The purpose of observing National Girl Child Day is to address the issues relating to girl children and to bring about a change in some people’s biased attitude towards girls.” He underscored the need for measures to ensure a balanced sex ratio in society.

On the National Girl Child Day, the Health and Family Welfare Department organised a programme titled “My Girl, My Child” and honoured some people’s representatives from five districts on the occasion. The districts which have reported more than 900 girl children at birth against every 1000 male children as per the 2022 survey of the Health department were awarded on the occasion.  

Also Read: Odisha's declining sex ratio at birth a matter for deep concern 

Pritilisha Behera, a student, who was awarded for winning a school-level drawing competition on girl child, said, “Through my drawing themes on Kanya Ratna (girl child), I tried to send a message to the society about the need for protecting girl children vis-a-vis the incidents of harassment and violence being meted out to them.”