Ambala villages see birth of more girls than boys

Nitin Jain

Several villages in Ambala district have seen the birth of more girls than boys in 2019, according to official figures.

At least 10 primary health centres (PHCs) in rural areas had recorded sex ratio at birth (SRB) of over 1,000 between January and November last.

The Civil Registration System (CRS) data of the district revealed that Noorpur PHC recorded the highest SRB of 1,333, while Panjokhra stood second at 1,325 and Chaurmastpur came third with 1,299 SRB. Among other top-10 PHCs, Majri reported SRB of 1,212; Bihta 1,200; Ambli 1,054; Boh 1,031; Saha 1,013; Shahzadpur 1,006 and Samlehri recorded 1,000 births of girls and boys each.

The twin towns of Ambala City and Cantonment recorded SRB of 939 and 964, respectively, during the first 11 months of 2019. Among other urban areas, Ambala Sadar registered sex ratio of 997, Mullana 969, Barara 961 and Naraingarh 956.

The lowest SRB of 688 in the district was recorded at Kurali PHC, where 11 girls were born against 16 boys from January to November 2019.

Ambala dist tops in state

In the annual SRB report of Haryana, Ambala topped the state with 963 girls against 1,000 boys born between December 2018 and November 2019. It was 40 points higher than the state average of 923. The second on the table was Panchkula with 961 points and Panipat ranked third with 940 SRB.

Interestingly, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar’s home district Karnal’s sex ratio slipped from 930 in 2018 (January to November) to 913 in the corresponding period last year by 17 points, as per the Civil Registration System (CRS) data released here.

Sharing the data, Ambala district nodal officer for the implementation of PNDT Act, Dr Balwinder Kaur, told The Tribune that it was the highest-ever SRB recorded in Ambala so far. The number of girls born against boys in the district constantly went up from 865 in 2014 to 874 in 2015, 912 in 2016, 925 in 2017 and 916 in 2018.

According to the SRB report as on November 30, 2019, Ambala’s sex ratio showed marked improvement month after month in 2019. It was 986 between September and November 2019, 974 between June and November 2019, 961 between March and November 2019, and 958 between January and November last.

Ambala also topped the state in comparative progressive SRB data. The district’s sex ratio went up by 52 points from 906 to 958 between January and November 2018 and 2019, respectively. The second progressive district was Panipat, which went up from 897 to 941 and Panchkula stood third by moving up from 920 to 963 points. Fatehabad and Jhajjar were other two districts that progressed from 887 to 922 and 874 to 909, respectively.

Ambala district tops in state

In the annual sex ratio at birth (SRB) report of Haryana, Ambala topped the state with 963 girls against 1,000 boys born between December 2018 and November 2019. It was 40 points higher than the state average of 923. The second on the table was Panchkula with 961 points and Panipat ranked third with 940 SRB. Touching a new high, as many as 1,017 girls were born against 1,000 boys in the district in November last. This was a whopping 81 points higher than the state's monthly SRB average of 936. The nearest rival was Panipat, which recorded SRB of 989. The worst district in Haryana was Narnaul with 836 SRB.

DC pats officials’ back

Complimenting the authorities concerned for the feat, Deputy Commissioner Ashok Kumar Sharma called upon them to take it forward and ensure that Ambala retains the top position in the state in future as well.

The laggards

The five districts where the SRB data went down in 2019, included Sirsa, which registered the maximum fall of 31 points from 937 in 2018 to 906 in 2019, Bhiwani from 918 to 895, Karnal from 930 to 913, Sonpeat from 923 to 911 and Kaithal slipped from 921 to 913 by 8 points.

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