Need to improve sex ratio in 161 districts: Rajendra Phadke

In a bid to end discrimination against the girl child, senior BJP leader and in charge of 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao' panel Rajendra Phadke said the party has selected 161 districts across the country where it is concentrating on improving the sex ratio.

"Out of 25 states in the country, we have selected 161 districts where the sex ratio is below the national average ratio of 929 and we are concentrating in these places to improve this ratio," Phadke told reporters here.

He also said in the northern region of the country, the party has found a few states where efforts are required to improve sex ratio in order to save girl child.

Phadke, who was appointed in charge of 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao' panel in order to take forward this government scheme, said that the party found nine districts in Punjab, three in Uttarakhand, UT Chandigarh, two in Himachal Pradesh, 10 in Jammu and Kashmir and eight in Haryana where focus is required for improving ratio.

"There are several reasons like literacy rate, girl safety issues and social problem like dowry behind the low sex ratio in these places which we have examined," he said.

Stating that the BJP was committed to save the girl child, Phadke said that the party had proposed to introduce active tracker machines at private and government hospitals in BJP ruled states to curb the practice of sex determination.

"Active tracker machine was first introduced in Madhya Pradesh on pilot basis which yielded good results and now we are asking BJP ruled states to have this machine," he said.

Phadke said active tracker machine will now be installed in hospitals in Varanasi which is the Lok Sabha constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

BJP national secretary Tarun Chugh, who is also part of the task force made for this government scheme, said because of the campaign launched at grass root level to save girl child through government's initiative of 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao', the sex ratio in several places like Haryana has improved.

"We are holding meetings with different sections of the society to encourage them to save girl child," he said.