Kathua district has witnessed improved girl sex ratio recording a 14 point increase against the last year figures.This was disclosed by District Development Commissioner Kathua Ramesh Kumar during ‘Asha Sammelan’ organized under ‘Beti Bchao Beti Padhao Week’ here today. ADC Kathua Rishpal Singh, CMO Kathua and representatives of Police and Legal expert, District and Block Coordinators besides ASHA Facilitators and ASHA workers were present on the occasion.The DDC said that falling female child sex ratio had become a major concern and the credit for improvement goes to the agencies involved in the awareness and surveillance drive launched in the district.He informed that Kathua district has recorded 887 female births in HMIS data for the year 2017-18 a 14 percent increase in last recorded figure which is quite encouraging and motivating.He said the efforts are showing results as Kathua district has recorded upward trend in succession for second year.He said the motive behind the sammelan was to capacitate ground staff of the health department to raise public awareness on gender equity. He laid stress on registration of expecting mothers to keep their track record so that practice of selective abortion or female foeticide can be discouraged and institutional deliveries are encouraged. He said female foeticide is a criminal offence and attracts penal provision of PC-PNDT Act. He said district administration has already announced reward for whistleblower to inform authorities about any incident of selective abortion/ female foeticide.
While interacting with ASHAs, he discussed the myths and misconceptions attached with the issues of gender and sex selection and explained how they can contribute effectively to address these issues.He said ASHAs can also disseminate the information to the family members of pregnant female and sensitize them about social and legal issues of sex selection.