NASHIK: The city’s sex ratio is showing an upwards trend over the past year, shows data provided by the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC)In 2017, there were 910 females per 1,000 males while in 2018, the number of females grew to 923 against per 1000 males. Civic officials said that awareness and their drives against sex determination are reasons for the rise, though the ratio is not yet very healthy .“We have been monitoring sonography centres and are strictly implementing the PC-PNDT (Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostics Techniques) Act. Nashik has not dipped, but risen in the child sex ratio at birth as the NMC is curbing malpractices. In 2017-18, we took action against many sonography centres that were found violating Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 2003.Those who faced action include three renowned hospitals. We also sealed 983 machines,” said an official from the health department, adding that awareness like the government’s Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign had also helped.The official said that this year better growth in the child sex ratio at birth is expected, adding, the city was in a better position than many other places.“It is a welcome sign. But a significant gap is still there and hence there is no reason to rejoice at the moment, but to work hard towards taking the ratio higher. The government departments, NGOs and other like-minded people should come together and create more awareness. We have to bridge the gap. A skewed male-female ratio also gives rise to social evils. More serious action should be taken by government bodies against the erring sonography centres,” said Prajakta Deshmukh, a social worker.Another social activist, Hema Jadhav said that last year Niti Aayog reported a drop in sex ratio at birth in 17 Indian states. Gujarat recorded the most alarming dip.“Though Maharashtra stood fifth, Nashik saw an upward rise in the graph, which is a very nice thing. But, a lot needs to be done in the field of sex ratio at birth. What we have noticed is that the educated class goes for sex determination test. Stringent implementation of the law is necessary because despite being aware of the law, medical practitioners agree to do the sonography only for few bucks,” Hema said.

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