Nawanshahr’s sex ratio revival endeavour runs out of breath

Once earning accolades across the country for recording a huge improvement in sex ratio (0-1 year) from 808 in 2001 to 935 in 2006, Nawanshahr now seems to face a contrasting reality.

Its sex ratio has once again dived down, currently standing at just 868, as the ‘Nawanshahr model’ seems to have completely fizzled out.

Punjab Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh cited these figures while chairing a state-level capacity-building workshop on the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act (PC-PNDT) held in Chandigarh last week.

The minister, in his speech, said the district — which had become a role model for the entire country about two decades ago for the steps it took for improving its skewed sex ratio — needed to seriously look into the problems that seem to have set in again.

He recalled the role of then Deputy Commissioner Krishan Kumar in the district’s achievement, who had been instrumental in changing public perception of the district — earlier often called the kudi maar zila (girl killer district). Nawanshahr’s exemplary feat had been mentioned in the Aamir Khan-starrer TV show Satyamev Jayate in 2012.

“(Former Deputy Commissioner) Krishan Kumar had used enforcement and NGOs as the initiative’s two wheels to take on the daunting task. He involved all the departments concerned — Health, Social Welfare, Police, Block Development and Panchayats — as well as Anganwadi workers. He had tasked NGOs with works such as organising ‘parbhat pheris’ and plays to spread awareness. He would use decoys, and conduct raids on scanning centres. He himself would be part of the teams that would conduct sting operations, and he never spared erring doctors. The staff were made to monitor every pregnant woman in the district. This exercise was crucial as it would help lead us to the ‘gaps’ which needed ‘plugging’,” said Jaspal Singh Gidda of Upkar, a Nawanshahr-based NGO.

Area residents said the implementation of Krishan Kumar’s ‘Nawanshahr Model’ continued even after he left office in March 2007.

“Deputy Commissioners after him — including Bhawna Garg, Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, Neelkanth Awadh, Anindita Mitra and Tanu Kashyap — continued to keep a tab on all activities that had been started in the district to keep its flag high in regards to sex ratio. However, the strings seem to have loosened again, which has led to the steep fall (in sex ratio),” a resident said.

Civil Surgeon Dr Gurinderjit Singh, however, said: “It was a slightly older data that the minister had quoted during the Chandigarh event. We have again started improving. The 0-1 sex ratio in our district in November 2025 has been recorded at 1,025. We have now averaged to 923.”

Health Minister lauds Hoshiarpur

Hoshiarpur has been improving on this front.

The Health Minister lauded the district’s officials for ensuring that the figure came up to 974. It stood at 926 in 2023, and 923 in 2024.

Once on top, Kapurthala witnesses dip this year

Kapurthala, which held the top spot with a figure of 987 last year, has witnessed a reduction in the figure to 944 (as at September this year).

Kapurthala Civil Surgeon Dr Sanjeev Bhagat said: “We expect the figure to improve in the next six months. There are more deliveries in the winter months. We are keeping a eye on scanning centres, and the working of the sonologists in the district. We have issued strict instructions that no portable scanning machines will be allowed, and that only sonologists could operate these. If doctors are on leave, machines are sealed until they return. We have asked all centres to display scanning timings. We usually encourage daytime scannings.”