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| 'Kanjak Poojan' ritual: stark contrast of sex ratio picture in J&K | | | Kunal Shrivatsa
JAMMU, Apr 12: We as a society, particularly Hindus, may consider the girl child as 'Devi' and perform 'Kanjak Poojans' on the culmination of divine nine days of 'Navratras'.
The latest Sex Ratio figures of Census-2011, however, indicates that the people of the State still prefer a male child over girls since Jammu and Kashmir is one of the states where sex ratio witnessed a sharp decline as compared to Census-2001.
The fresh Census figures are nothing less than a shock as the Sex Ratio (females per thousand males) of the state has fallen from 892 in 2001 to 883 in 2011, far below the national average of 940 which clearly shows that the state is heading for a major gender imbalance.
As compared to Kashmir province, the Jammu region has shown marginal improvement in Sex Ratio figures barring Samba, Rajouri Kathua, and Poonch where a variation of -11,-15, -21 and -29 was registered respectively.
In these four districts, the figures stand at 886 down from 897 in 2001, Rajouri has 863 while it has 878 in 2001, Kathua also experienced a downfall from 898 in 2001 to 877 in 2011 and Poonch now stands at 890 females per thousand males as compared to 919 in 2001.
The highest downward trend in Sex Ratio has been witnessed in district Leh where a massive downfall of -240 was noted as in this part of the state a meagre 583 females per thousand males have been reported, which is almost half of the benchmark. In 2001, there were 823 females per thousand males in Leh. (See Table)
If overall Sex Ratio of the state presents a dismal picture then the Child Sex Ratio is not either pleasing because female ratio in the age group of 0-6 years has also experienced a steep downfall of -89 from the year 2001.
While there were 963 females per thousand males born in 1981, it goes down to 941 in 2001 and further dipped to abysmal 859 in 2011 in well below in comparison to the national average of 914.
The Child Sex Ratio (0-6 years) are considered to be the powerful indicators to examine the social response and attitude towards the girl child in the recent past and it would be befitting to say that State has failed miserably in this category too.
Except for Kupwara, all other districts of the State have shown negative growth as far as Child Sex ratio is concerned. (See Table)
This indicates a continued trend of preference for male children over females.
India is a country where female infanticide is still common and the government has even banned revealing the sex of the unborn child but the figures reflect that the gender imbalance is there despite a ban on sex determination tests based on ultrasound scans and sex selective abortion.
Girl child campaigners say the imbalance is there because parents continue to view daughters as financial liabilities and male children as wage earners.
"The census figures are a warning signal for the state to wake up from the deep slumber… We are leading to a crisis situation," Dr Gurmeet Kour, a Psychologist, said
"Declining child sex ratio is a matter of grave concern…. Law banning abortions to determine sex should be implemented effectively as whatever measures put in so far have not yielded productive results in improving child sex ratio," she added.
Going by the latest trends, the days are not far off when the parents have to go through hectic searches to find out a suitable bride for their sons and not to forget it would be hard to locate a baby girl to perform the 'Kanjak Poojan', the quintessential ritual on the occasion of Navratras viz a viz other religious ceremonies take place from time to time in a household. |
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