For Haryana government, it seems a pat on its own back is of integral importance, even if it comes at the cost of belting out half-truths.
On the occasion of Gita Jayanti, the Khattar government put up advertisement hoardings of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao across the state claiming that the state has witnessed an increase in the sex ratio.
As per the advertisement, the state has recorded 922 female births per 1,000 males till May. However, the advertisement chose not to share the latest data which has already been released by the state health department. The state recorded 910 female births per 1,000 males from January 1-October 31, 2018, as per the state health department, Hindustan Times reported.
Even as the state witnessed 922 female births per 1,000 males till May 2018, the ratio declined to 911 till October 31. According to Haryana health department figures, the state had recorded 876 female births in 2015, 900 female births in 2016 and 914 female births in 2017, per 1,000 male births.
“This year, the state can’t reach the figures close to 922 female births per 1,000 male births. We can hardly reach the last year’s figures, not above that. The state reported a decline in sex ratio between May 1 to October 31 but we are getting reports that sex ratio has increased in November and in starting weeks of December,” A health official told Hindustan Times.
Haryana’s sex ratio has improved from what it was a few years ago, but the figures lack consistency. According to a report released by the Union health ministry in July, Haryana reported the highest number of violations under the PCPNDT (Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques) Act across the country till March this year — of the 387 cases registered across the country, 158 cases were from the state.
