The document discusses the declining sex ratio in India and some of the factors contributing to it. It notes that the census of 2001 revealed a sex ratio of 933 females per 1000 males, representing a deficit of around 3.5 crore women. The widespread use of sex-selective abortions has led to 60 lakh missing girls. While some states like Kerala have a favorable ratio, others like Haryana and Punjab have seen their child sex ratios decline sharply due to such practices. The PNDT Act was passed in 1994 to regulate sex determination tests but has not been effectively implemented.

1. Decling Sex Ratio & Educated Elites Dr. Vibhuti Patel, DIRECTOR, P.G.S.R. Professor & Head, Post Graduate Department of Economics, SNDT Women’s University, Churchgate, Mumbai-400020. E-mail- vibhuti.np@gmail.com Phone-91-022-26770227, mobile-9321040048

3. Source: The World’s Women- Trends and Statistics, United Nations, NY, 1995 Regions Women per 100 men Europe & North America 105 Latin America 100 Caribbean 103 Sub Saharan Africa 102 South East Asia 100 Central Asia 104 South Asia 95 India 93

4. Number of women per 100 men 100.0 Thailand 101.2 Sri Lanka 100.5 Indonesia 101.0 Myanmar 94.8 Maldives 97.8 Nepal 93.5 India 99.7 Democratic Republic of Korea 94.4 China 98.2 Bhutan 95.3 Bangladesh

5. Table-2 Sex Ratio in India, 1901 to 2001 Source: Census of India, 2001 Sex Ratio-1901 to 2001 Year Number of Women per 1000 Men Decadal Variation 1901 972 1911 964 - 8 1921 955 -11 1931 950 -5 1941 945 -5 1951 946 +1 1961 941 - 5 1971 930 -11 1981 934 - 4 1991 927 -7 2001 933 +6

9. ISP-Index of Son Preference (Excess of sons over daughters/ ideal family size) in Major States in India, 1990. All India-20 W.Bengal U.P. Tamil Nadu Rajasthan Punjab Orissa Maharashtra States 10 14.3 02 27.1 M.P. 01 21.6 12 11.7 Kerala 13 9.2 08 20 Karnataka 03 25 10 14.3 Haryana 07 20.3 06 23 Gujarat 05 23.4 04 24.5 Bihar 09 18 11 13.8 A.P. Rank ISP Rank ISP States

25. Sex Ratio among the States with Widespread Use of Sex Determination Tests (O-6 year age group) Source: Census of India, 2001 917 946 Maharashtra 878 928 Gujarat 820 879 Haryana 793 875 Punjab 2001 1991 States

28. Slogans of Women’s Rights Movement “ Eliminate Inequality, not Women”. “ Destroy Dowry, not Daughters”. Say “No” to Sex-determination, Say “Yes” to Empowerment of Women, Say “No” to Sex Discrimination, Say “Yes” to Gender Justice.