Bhubaneswar: Odisha has witnessed a slight decline in the sex ratio at birth (SRB) over the past decade, raising concerns about societal preferences for male children. According to the Health Management Information System (HMIS) of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, the SRB in the state dropped to 926 girls per 1,000 boys in 2023-24 from 948 in 2014-15.
In contrast, the national average showed an improvement, rising from 918 to 930 during the same period. The SRB serves as a key indicator of gender balance, reflecting the number of girls born for every 1,000 boys.
Union Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Savitri Thakur, highlighted this concerning trend during a session in the Rajya Sabha, attributing it to a persistent societal bias favoring sons over daughters.
Despite the decline in SRB, Odisha showed progress in female education. Thakur noted that the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) of girls in secondary schools improved significantly, climbing from 75.03% in 2014-15 to 80.60% in 2021-22, as per data from the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+).
To address gender disparities, the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme under Mission Shakti has been expanded nationwide, including all districts in Odisha. This initiative aims to prevent gender-biased sex-selective practices, ensure the survival and protection of girl children, and promote their education.
Responding to a query from MP Debashish Samantaray, Thakur informed that the Central Government has allocated ₹806.25 crore under the BBBP scheme, with ₹544.67 crore utilized so far. However, she also pointed out that the West Bengal government has opted not to implement the centrally sponsored scheme, which is funded entirely by the Union Government.