M A I N   N E W S

Karnal gender ratio skewed no more
Bhanu P Lohumi/TNS

The female gender ratio has improved discernibly in Karnal, a district notorious for its skewed gender ratio and honour killings, to 898 against 1,000 males. In September 2011, the ratio in the district was 825 (843 in rural areas and 817 in urban areas) female births, with the sex ratio crossing the 1,000 mark there. In 2013, female births increased from 1,084 to 1,333 at the Khukhni PHC; from 1,107 to 1,200 in the Trarouri PHC; and from 1,018 to 1,071 at the Nissing CHC.

However, the community health centre at Assandh and primary health centres at Kutil, that were doing well in September 2011 with a sex ratio of 1,000 and 1,037, respectively, showed a downward trend with the sex ratio plummeting to 750 and 846, respectively, by March 2013.

A significant increase was witnessed in urban areas with sex ratio increasing in the Assandh medical centre (MC) from 763 to 840; MC Gharonda from 842 to 955; MC Indri from 813 to 1,052; MC Tarouri from 921 to 1,043; MC Nilokheri from 893 to 895; and MC Karnal from 807 to 881 in the past 19 months. However, MC Nissing was an exception. Here, sex ratio decreased from 852 to 785.

A total of 6,831 children - 3,600 males and 3,231 females -- were born in Karnal district till March 31, 2013, with sex ratio of 887 (rural 967) and (urban 858). In March, the sex ratio in PHC Choura was 2,286 with the birth of 16 females against seven males.