Sex ratio in Chhattisgarh highest among all states

Sex ratio in Chhattisgarh is highest among all the states in the country with women taking lead to have a greater share.

"It is a matter of pride and honour for the entire State that ratio of women to men population is higher in Chhattisgarh than the national average,"state's women and child welfare minister Ramsheela Sahu said at the three-day National workshop of the Union Women and Child Development Ministry at Panipat, Haryana.

The subject of the workshop was 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padao (save girls, educate girls)'.

The said there were 991 females to 1,000 males in Chhattisgarh. The female-male ratio is the highest in the country and far above the national average. In some districts there are more than 1,000 females to 1,000 males. She said that the outcome was the results of Chhattisgarh Government concentration on health and education of girl child.

The state government had taken the empowerment of women top of the agenda. In Chhattisgarh's 10 districts out of 27 districts, 'Sabela Yojana' has been launched with the assistance of Centre for the girls in the age-group of 11-18 years. About 400,000 girls are given nutritious 'Ready-To-Eat' diet prepared by the women's self-help groups.

In the remaining 17 districts, 500,000 girls are given nutritious 'Ready-To-Eat' diet. About Rs 80 crore is spent on the project. The minister gave suggestions for the improvement in the project.

The Minister said a subject on girl's health should be included in the middle school classes in the academic curriculum. There should be focus on school drop-outs also, she said, adding that many girls leave the school due to domestic chores, weak financial status, social atmosphere and no school in the vicinity that need to be addressed.