<p>Bengaluru has the lowest sex ratio compared to all metro cities in the country. According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) approved by the government of India, there are just 727 females at birth as against 1,000 males in the city.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The study, conducted by the International Institute for Population Sciences, states that the sex ratio at birth for children born in the last five years (females per 1,000 males) is 727 in Bengaluru. In contrast, in Bengaluru Rural, there were 1,313 females for every 1,000 males at birth in the last five years. In all other metros, while the sex ratio is over 900, the total sex ratio of the population (including the migratory population) in Bengaluru is 898. <br /><br />In Bengaluru Rural, the ratio of females per 1,000 males is 994. Lack of strict enforcement of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act is the reason behind such a low sex ratio, opine experts. <br /><br />Dr Vasundara Bhupathi, a former member of the state committee on female foeticide said that the trend is alarming. She added that the district committee on PCPNDT Act is non-existent. <br /><br />“The situation could get worse if awareness is not created right away. With none to keep a watch, sex determination could be rampant,” she said. Meanwhile, V C Ugrappa, chairperson, Legislative Committee on Women and Child Safety said that the committee that is headed by the District Commissioners must meet periodically. <br /><br />“The state committee is not functioning efficiently. This issue has not been taken up seriously. A lot needs to be done to stop sex determination. There is a need to have programmes both at the state and Union levels,” he said.<br />DH News Service<br /><br />State govt figures differ<br />The department of health and family welfare, here, has different statistics. <br /><br />According to a senior official with the health department, the sex ratio at birth in Bengaluru is 944 females for 1,000 males and 917 for every 1,000 in the total population. <br /><br />Dr M Rajini, deputy director, PCPNDT, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Karnataka, said that for the state, at birth, there are 909 females for every 1,000 males. “The figures have gone down from 924 in a decreasing trend. However, according to the NHFS survey, sex ratio at birth for children born in the last five years in the state (females per 1,000 males) is 875 for urban and 935 for rural. <br /><br />Dr Rajini, who clarified that the NHFS figures could not be disputed, said that the state gathered its statistics from the Health Management Information System which is updated on a regular basis.</p>
<p>Bengaluru has the lowest sex ratio compared to all metro cities in the country. According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) approved by the government of India, there are just 727 females at birth as against 1,000 males in the city.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The study, conducted by the International Institute for Population Sciences, states that the sex ratio at birth for children born in the last five years (females per 1,000 males) is 727 in Bengaluru. In contrast, in Bengaluru Rural, there were 1,313 females for every 1,000 males at birth in the last five years. In all other metros, while the sex ratio is over 900, the total sex ratio of the population (including the migratory population) in Bengaluru is 898. <br /><br />In Bengaluru Rural, the ratio of females per 1,000 males is 994. Lack of strict enforcement of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act is the reason behind such a low sex ratio, opine experts. <br /><br />Dr Vasundara Bhupathi, a former member of the state committee on female foeticide said that the trend is alarming. She added that the district committee on PCPNDT Act is non-existent. <br /><br />“The situation could get worse if awareness is not created right away. With none to keep a watch, sex determination could be rampant,” she said. Meanwhile, V C Ugrappa, chairperson, Legislative Committee on Women and Child Safety said that the committee that is headed by the District Commissioners must meet periodically. <br /><br />“The state committee is not functioning efficiently. This issue has not been taken up seriously. A lot needs to be done to stop sex determination. There is a need to have programmes both at the state and Union levels,” he said.<br />DH News Service<br /><br />State govt figures differ<br />The department of health and family welfare, here, has different statistics. <br /><br />According to a senior official with the health department, the sex ratio at birth in Bengaluru is 944 females for 1,000 males and 917 for every 1,000 in the total population. <br /><br />Dr M Rajini, deputy director, PCPNDT, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Karnataka, said that for the state, at birth, there are 909 females for every 1,000 males. “The figures have gone down from 924 in a decreasing trend. However, according to the NHFS survey, sex ratio at birth for children born in the last five years in the state (females per 1,000 males) is 875 for urban and 935 for rural. <br /><br />Dr Rajini, who clarified that the NHFS figures could not be disputed, said that the state gathered its statistics from the Health Management Information System which is updated on a regular basis.</p>
