SGPC wakes up to declining sex ratio
Tribune News Service
Patiala, October 22
The SGPC will soon release a book on the declining sex ratio in the state. Besides the book, literature on ills of female foeticide will also be published and distributed free of cost in all gurdwaras functioning under the SGPC.
As per the latest data, Sansarwal village in Patiala has a sex ratio of 438/1000, Churpur 464/1000, Dhughet 465/1000, Bosar Kalan 625/1000, Budhae Majra 611/1000, Babipur 528/1000, Sadarpur 550/1000, Shekhupur 467/1000, Ase Majra 608/1000, Khunti Chaura 556/1000, Dharaura Kalan 559/1000, Jalal Kher 563/1000, Dhareri Jalan 584/1000, Dhoni Majra 636/1000, Baramhpura 567/1000, Malomajra 583/1000, Mahmoolpur 586/1000, Ramgarh 608/1000, Butan Singh Wala 600/1000 and Bohpur 605/1000.
Jathedar of Akal Takht Joginder Singh Vedanti has given the task of penning the said literature to Harshinder Kaur, who has been working in the area for the past more than five years.
He was here to release her book on child psychology. The book was released by the jathedar in the presence of Punjabi scholar Pritam Singh.
Harshinder said the jathedar was moved by the latest statistics regarding the declining sex ratio, especially in the 0-6 age group in the state. Besides foeticide and infanticide, the single-child norm being adopted by Punjabi families was one major reason for the declining sex ratio. Families in the state are increasingly opting for single child in which the male child is the obvious preference.
“The jathedar immediately told me to pen down a book on the dangers posed by the declining sex ratio in the state. He also said the matter would be discussed with other Sikh high priests and the clergy could consider issuing a hukamnama on the issue, she said.
The message from the highest seat of Sikh religion, Akal Takht, can make a considerable difference in changing the attitude of people towards girl child, she said and added that the latest figures released by the health survey of the state have made Patiala as the district having the lowest sex ratio in the state. The villages extending from Rajpura to Patran have been found to be having about an average sex ratio of just 600 per 1000 men, which could be the lowest in the country. As per the 2001 census, Fatehgarh Sahib district had the minimum sex ratio of just 754/1000 while Patiala had 870 females per thousand males. However, as per the latest one Patiala seems to have surpassed every district in terms of the declining sex ratio.
