Backward region 'forward' in registration of births

It is 100 per cent in Bidar while 67.25 per cent in Ramanagara

Consider this: Birth registration in Chamarajnagar is the lowest with 62.66 per cent, Mandya (62.66 pc), Bangalore Rural (66.38 pc) and Ramanagara (67.25 pc).

However, it is 100 per cent in Bidar and 92.33 per cent in Gulbarga. The average of North Karnataka districts is above 70 per cent.

The statistics were disclosed by Chief Registrar H E Rajashekarappa at a workshop on “Count every Child because every Child Counts”, organised by Plan India, a non-government organisation working for the child rights on Tuesday.

The reason, according to the Chief Registrar, is lack of awareness. Due to the special focus given by the Government for North Karnataka development, the awareness level is more in the recent years.

People in rural areas of southern Karnataka districts are yet to realise the importance of birth registration, he said.

The Government, therefore, has decided to intensify awareness campaign in these districts in coming days. The average birth registration in Karnataka is 87.06 per cent, he added.

Lack of data

Principal Secretary to Education Department R G Nadadur said in the absence proper data on births, the Government departments are finding it increasingly difficult to implement various programmes.

For instance, though the Government has sanctioned 70 new high schools, the department is not sure where to start the new schools as there is no data available on births.

The Government’s planning and implementation of new schemes have been unscientific, he added. Plan India Programme Manager Sneha Siddham said the Government should simplify the procedure for birth registration, besides conducting awareness campaign.