Haryana Sex Ratio Improves by Nine Points, Reaches 916

Haryana has recorded a notable improvement in its sex ratio, which has risen by nine points over the past year, reflecting sustained efforts by the state health department. According to official data, the sex ratio stood at 907 on November 15, 2024, and has now increased to 916.

Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Sudhir Rajpal reviewed the progress while chairing the weekly meeting of the State Task Force on Improving Sex Ratio. Expressing satisfaction over the upward trend, he directed departmental officers to work with greater focus to achieve a sex ratio of 920 by December 31, 2025.

Rajpal stressed that strict monitoring and complete registration of all births is critical to sustaining and accelerating improvement. He specifically instructed officials to ensure birth registration in urban areas, towns, and locations with a high migrant population, where under-reporting is often observed. 

Highlighting gaps in certain pockets, the Health Secretary said that in slum and low-registration areas, special camps should be organised and awareness campaigns intensified. He noted that timely birth registration not only helps improve the accuracy of sex ratio data but also ensures that eligible families receive government benefits without delay.

“The consistent improvement in the sex ratio is the result of coordinated efforts by field officers and monitoring mechanisms. This momentum must continue with zero tolerance for negligence,” Rajpal said during the meeting.

"These included Health Secretary R.S. Dhillon, Director General Dr Manish Bansal, Director Dr Virender Yadav and Dr Kuldeep Singh, who also joined the review discussion to give their valuable inputs on further strengthening the implementation at grass root level."

Haryana has traditionally been one of the worst-performing States in terms of the gender ratio, but recent trends indicate some improvement owing to concerted interventions, enforcement of norms on registration of births and a series of awareness programmes aimed at discouraging discrimination based on the gender of the child.

The officials reiterated that achieving the target of 920 by year-end would mark a major milestone in the state's ongoing efforts to promote gender equity and social balance.