IMPHAL, Nov 26 (NNN): The normal ratio of girl child in Manipur has now dropped to a record low as the people are using Pre-natal Diagnostic Technique (PNDT) to abort girl child hence proper implementation of PC& PNDT Act is required in the state in order to stop such practice, Directorate of Family Welfare Services, Manipur, said Monday.
Naorem Achouba, Director, Directorate of Family Welfare Services, Manipur stated this during a 1-day capacity building workshop for media (both print and electronic) and the State Appropriate Authority (SAA) and PNDT Cell on “Conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Technique Act” organised by the Directorate at its Conference Hall, BT Road, Imphal.
“The decline in normal child sex ratio in Manipur is in a serious stage and proper implementation of PC&PNDT Act is the need of the hour to save the girl child,” Achouba said.
As per a directive issued by the Central Government in 2003, the practice of PNDT has been banned in Manipur, the Director informed. He, however, said that this ban has not been effective in the state till now.
The decrease in the number of girl child in the age group 0-6 in the state clearly indicates that such technique is still in practice in the state issued despite the ban and that abortions are being carried out after sex determination.
According to 1991 Census, the normal ratio of girl child was 974, while in 2001 the ratio was dropped at 952 and then in 2011 it has been again dropped at 934, Achouba said. The above figures show the number of girl child in descending order. The world normal child ratio is 950.
He further said the world normal child ratio is 950 and if this ratio is below the normal figure, the stage has to be taken as alarming. Therefore, PC&PNDT Act is necessary to strengthen in the state, he suggested.