Addressing issues of Female Sex ratio in rural India - need for creation social Sustenance
Dr. Devappa M. K.
Associate Professor-Dept of Sociology
Govt First Grade College, T. Dasarahalli, Bangalore
PH: 8310233328
drdevappamk@gmail.com
Abstract
This paper focuses on diminishing female sex ratio in rural India and spot lights on the need to creation of awareness among rural people about the effects of decreasing female sex ratio.. The female infanticide has been increasing in rural India at an alarming rate. Indian society is still reeling under the pressure of gender exclusiveness and nearly 50% of the women population in rural India do not have any property and proprietary rights. Urban Indian society still very recently marked the increasing number of female infanticide but the number of cases of infant mortality is recording increase in rural India. In spite of wide spread awareness creation through government , NGOs and such other agencies female number are coming down and this time rural India is seeing heavy differences in male female ratio. The decreasing levels of sex ratio is all alarming . It is also known that economic sustainability measures would support increasing female sex ratio. Besides, increasing female education and framing policies to ameliorate economic prospects of women might help to improve the ratio.
Key words: Female Sex ratio, rural India, creation of awareness
Introduction: Indian rural society has been witnessing a diminishing female number as compared to male number. There are several reasons which are causing decrease in number of females. As shown in this diagram
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Social Taboos |
Son preference , male domination , patriarchal ideology , |
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Cultural Reservations |
The ideology towards raising a female child is still covered with taboos. Indian societal attitudes towards female child is very narrow. |
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Poor Economic Standard |
Very few opportunities for women to gain economic c support in a male dominated society. |
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Illiteracy |
Women are still lagging behind in gaining access to educational facilities. |
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Poor Family reproductive health Awareness |
Women both urban and rural women have very poor Family reproductive health awareness. |
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Poor economic inclusiveness |
Rural women do not enjoy any economic inclusiveness |
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STATE |
RURAL |
URABN |
TOTAL |
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SL NO |
STATE |
RURAL |
URABN |
TOTAL |
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1 |
ANDHRA PRADESH |
890 |
924 |
912 |
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2 |
ASSAM |
905 |
914 |
908 |
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3 |
BIHAR |
939 |
936 |
938 |
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4 |
CHATTIS GARH |
950 |
926 |
939 |
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5 |
DEHLI |
913 |
925 |
924 |
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6 |
GUJARAT |
914 |
889 |
897 |
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7 |
HARIYANA |
901 |
904 |
903 |
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8 |
HIMACHAL PRADEHS |
926 |
929 |
928 |
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9 |
JAMMU |
967 |
927 |
952 |
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10 |
JHARKHAND |
885 |
843 |
871 |
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11 |
KARNATAKA |
951 |
935 |
938 |
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12 |
KERAL |
967 |
961 |
963 |
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13 |
MADHYA PRDESH |
897 |
903 |
901 |
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14 |
MAHARSTRA |
902 |
920 |
916 |
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15 |
ORISSA |
911 |
911 |
911 |
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16 |
PUNJAB |
898 |
891 |
892 |
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17 |
RAJSTHAN |
882 |
891 |
892 |
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18 |
TAMIL ADU |
901 |
939 |
930 |
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19 |
TELENGANA |
921 |
925 |
924 |
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20 |
UTTAR PRADESH |
930 |
907 |
922 |
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21 |
UTTARAKHAND |
962 |
938 |
948 |
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22 |
WEST BENGAL |
984 |
930 |
958 |
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TOTAL |
924 |
918 |
921 |
State wise ration chart- The sex ratio debates in India are very high but the following table reflects the exact pathetic situation state wise. The fact that there is rise in female infanticide in rural India is very alarming. . the Indian sex ratio is out of 1000 males 924 females . But at the same time this number is out of 1000 males in rural India there are only 918 females. to take the case of Tamil nadu there are 939 females in urban center at the same time there are 901 females born in rural Tamil nadu the other states which are influenced after Tamil nadu are Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh.
Source: Census of 2011 Official website 2020
The case of decreasing fertility-
The fertility has been declining in India. The sample registration system statistical report of 2018 estimated the total fertility rate , the number of children a mother would have at the current a pattern of fertility during her life time as 2.2 in the year 2018. Fertility is likely to continue to decline. It is estimated that replacement TFR of 2.1 would soon be reached for India as a whole. This is ot sp so because of the population momentum effect a result of more people entering the reproductive age group of 15-49 years due to the past high level of fertility.
For instance the replacement fertility level was reached in Kerala around 1990 but its annual population growth rate was 0.7 percent in 2018 The UN population division has estimated that India’s population would possibly peal at 161 crore around 20161 The normal sex ratio would be 1050 males to 1000 females. There is considerable son preference in alls ttaes except in Kerala and Chhattisgarh The UNFPA state of the world population 2020 estimated the sex ratio at birth in India as 910 lower than the all the countries in the world except china.
It is also known that economic sustainability measures would support increasing female sex ratio. Besides, increasing female education and economic prosperity help to improve the ratio. It is hoped that a balanced ses ratio at birth could be realized over time although this does seem to be happening during the period 2011-18
Son preference- Son preference is resulting in gender biased sex selection government actions need to be supplemented by improving women’s status in the society. The preference for son is motivated by economic, religious, social and emotional desires and norms that favor males and make females less desirable. It is known that in Rural India too parents expect sons—but not daughters—to provide financial and emotional care, especially in their old age; sons add to family wealth and property while daughters drain it through dowries; sons continue the family lineage while daughters are married away to another household; sons perform important religious roles; and sons defend or exercise the family’s power while daughters have to be defended and protected, creating a perceived burden on the poor households. Increasing concerns about
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Human trafficking , |
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Women harassment , |
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Sexual violence , |
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Domestic violence against women |
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Discriminatory attitude |
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Prejudicial attitude |
add to the worries of the parents and make them prefer male child.
Legislative acts for supporting women-
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Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act: A. |
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Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act: |
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Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act: |
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Dowry Prohibition Act: . |
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Maternity Benefit Act: |
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Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act: |
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Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act: |
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Equal Remuneration Act: |
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Family Courts Act: . |
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Legal Services Authorities Act: |
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Legislative support
There is an urgent need to reach young people both for reproductive health education and services as well as to cultivate gender equity norms. This could reduce the effect of population’s momentum and accelerate progress towards reaching a more normal sex ratio at birth. All need to know that Indian population future depends on it.
Conclusion: Thus, the creation of societal awareness is very important and the public participation along with Government initiatives is very important. All the stake holders of the community need to involve in implementation of all policies towards creation of universal awareness. The fact that female infanticide has been increasing in rural India at an alarming rate needs to be considered seriously through mass women organizations, self help groups, and women rural associations. Indian policy makers need to extend policy support rural Indian women about property and proprietary rights. If women are supported with basic information about financial inclusiveness, they can make positive moves towards educating their children and this education supports them with proper thinking. India needs people who can think positively and help the nation grow constructively.
References: