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2018 report on “Vital statistics of India based on the Civil Registration System”

Topics Covered: Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.

2018 report on “Vital statistics of India based on the Civil Registration System”:

Context:

The report was published recently by the Registrar-General of India. It throws light on Sex Ratios of various states in the country.

  • Sex ratio at birth is the number of females born per 1,000 males.

Key Findings:

  • State with best Sex Ratio: Arunachal Pradesh (1084).
  • Worst: Manipur (757).
  • Arunachal Pradesh is followed by Nagaland (965) Mizoram (964), Kerala (963) and Karnataka (957).
  • Delhi recorded a sex ratio of 929, Haryana 914 and Jammu and Kashmir 952.
  • The number of registered births increased to 2.33 crore in 2018 from 2.21 crore registered births the previous year.
  • The level of registration of births has increased to 89.3% in 2018 from 81.3% in 2009.

GAP

What has the Government done in this regard?

It is implementing many schemes. These include:

  1. Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao.
  2. Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY).
  3. Girl Child Protection Scheme.
  4. Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandhana Yojana (PMMVY).
  5. Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK).

What are the challenges while implementing the schemes and laws for women empowerment?

  • There are no sufficient resources to undertake inspection and monitoring.
  • Insufficient qualified staff.
  • The poor performance of advisory committees at various levels.
  • Insufficient understanding of laws and procedures.
  • Lack of awareness.
  • Limited infrastructure to support the implementation of these schemes

What can be the way forward?

  • Stringent implementation of the laws that ban foeticide;
  • Providing favourable schemes for those parents who have no sons;
  • Free and compulsory education for girls;
  • Women should be provided with job reservations;
  • Supporting infrastructure and training should be ensured for the implementation of the related laws;
  • The education system must focus on providing awareness about the women empowerment and the evils of dowry and female foeticide.
  • Women, from early childhood, must be empowered and socialised so that they consider themselves to be on par with men.
  • The government should focus on changing society’s mindset to address this issue.

InstaLinks:

Prelims Link:

  1. How is Sex Ratio defined?
  2. Report on “Vital statistics of India based on the Civil Registration System” is released by?
  3. Key findings in the latest edition.

Mains Link:

Analyse the trends of sex ratio in India and its impact on socio-economic development of the country.

Sources: the Hindu.