J-K govt expresses concern over skewed sex ratio

Jammu and Kashmir government today expressed concern over the decline in the sex ratio in the state, saying the issue should be flagged as a priority concern and dealt with determination.
"The issue of reported decline in sex ratio in Jammu and Kashmir should be flagged as a priority concern and dealt with determination," Chief Secretary, Mohammad Iqbal Khandey said during the first meeting of the Task Force constituted to study various aspects of declining sex ratio and in particular child sex ratio in the state here.
The Chief Secretary said the issue is of significant ramification and the civil society as a whole has to play its important role to help in reversing the trend and ensuring equal chances of birth, growth and development of the girl child along with the male child, an official spokesman said.

Khandey received appraisal of the district wise data in this regard collected by different agencies, he said.
The meeting took stock of the measures put in place by various agencies including the Health Department to book those who facilitate as well as help in sex determination and female foeticide, the spokesman said.
Khandey asked for stringent punishment for those involved in female foeticide, adding necessary measures to make the laws more stringent need to be taken, he said.

The Chief Secretary asked the Health Department to ascertain the latest situation with regard to child sex ratio from the data maintained through Health Management Information System to get a clear picture, the spokesman said.

The meeting was informed that a state-level monitoring committee is proposed to be constituted to conduct surprise checking and sting operations of the ultra-sound clinics.
The task force recommended launching of aggressive awareness and media campaigns to save the girl child, besides taking punitive measures and amendments to the Jammu and Kashmir Pre-conception and Pre-natal Sex Selection/ Determination (prohibition and regulation) Act.