Chandigarh, Jan 6, 2011: The sex ratio in Punjab is beginning to look up as 83 panchayats in the state have achieved a sex ratio of 1,000 girls for the same number of boys. These panchayats are a small fraction of the over 12,000 villages in the state, but the Department of Health and Family Welfare has encouraged the panchayats by giving them a reward of Rs 1.5 lakh each. The panchayat members will be honoured on Republic Day.
Stating this here, Health Minister Lakshmi Kanta Chawla said the state was trying to create awareness and to sensitize people regarding the worth of the girl child.
The department had inspected 3,462 ultrasound centres across the state since April 2010 to ensure they did not indulge in female foeticide. Notices had been sent to 144 of these centres under Section 20 of the PNDT Act.
The minister said the licences of 96 centres were suspended whereas licences of five centres were cancelled following different violations of the provisions of the Act.
SEX Ratio