Female foeticide or error in data recording? 

By Kenter JR

ITANAGAR, Aug 13: In what could be termed as alarming development, Arunachal Pradesh has registered a sharp decline in sex ratio in the latest report by the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) for the year 2021. 
The three districts-- Dibang Valley, Upper Siang and East Kameng have registered a significant decline in the sex ratio in the NFHS - 5 (2019-21) as compared to the NFHS- 4 ( 2015-16).
"There are two possibilities for these change in numbers : one reason could be female foeticide;  in which case role of certain doctors and private clinics could come under scanner; second reason could be error in data recording and reporting by the agency," said a highly placed source in the state's health department. 
Sources added, in the light of new data, Dr Emi Rumi, DFW -cum-State Appropriate Authority (PC & PNDT) held a meeting on August 10 last where the concerned DMOs  have been directed to review the fall in the "child sex ratio" and state the reasons, if any.
Dibang Valley in 2015-16 had a sex ratio of 1416 females born per thousand males. In 2019-21, it has reported sharp decline at 1054. 
Upper Siang in 2015-16 had a sex ratio of 1038, which has now gone down to 983. East Kameng had a sex ratio of 1004 females born per thousand males which now stands at 995.
Despite the decline in sex ratio in the three districts, the overall sex ratio of Arunachal Pradesh is still above 1000. It is worth mentioning that a report by the Registrar General & Census Commissioner in November 2020  reported Arunachal Pradesh as having the best sex ratio in the country with 1084 females born per thousand males.
Sources have informed that a central team is expected to visit the state around August last week.  Albeit a routine one, the visit is being seen to a large extent to be prompted by the latest data findings.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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