Haryana’s Turnaround in Sex Ratio at Birth

Haryana has recorded its best sex ratio at birth in five years, reaching 923 girls per 1,000 boys in 2025.

Background

• Poor Baseline: In the 2011 Census, Haryana was among the worst performers with a sex ratio at birth of 834.
• Recent Improvement: The ratio improved from 910 in 2024 to 923 in 2025, moving closer to the national average of 933.
• Best Performing Districts: Panchkula (971), Fatehabad (961) and Panipat (951) recorded the highest sex ratios at birth.

Initiatives taken by Haryana

• Monitoring of Ultrasound Centres:
  • Legal basis: Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994.
  • Medical Oversight: District nodal officers and medical officers monitored ultrasound centres through regular inspections and quarterly meetings.
  • Licensing Action: Violations led to cancellation of licences, seizure of equipment, and prosecution of doctors.
  • Task Forces: Special task forces were empowered to track illegal medical termination kits and unregistered procedures
• Technological and Monitoring Innovations:
  • RCHID System: Introduction of Reproductive and Child Health Identity (RCHID), a 12-digit unique ID for every pregnant woman.
• Saheli Project: (2025(
  • Under the Saheli Initiative, every pregnant woman expecting a girl child is assigned a dedicated caregiver known as a ‘Saheli’.
  • Role of Saheli: The ‘Saheli’ is either an Anganwadi Worker from the Women and Child Development Department or an ASHA worker under the National Health Mission.
  • Target Group: Focused on pregnant women who already have at least one daughter.
  • Impact: Led to a 57 percentage point drop in trimester abortion rate within one year.

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Sex Ratio in India

• Historical Trend: India’s sex ratio declined from 972 females per 1,000 males in 1901 to 933 in 2001 due to deep-rooted gender discrimination.
• Reasons for Decline: Son preference, patriarchal social norms, and unequal access to healthcare significantly contributed to the decline.
• Recent Improvement: NFHS-5 (2019–21) reported 1,020 females per 1,000 males, indicating gradual social transformation and improved women’s health outcomes.
  • Sex Ratio at Birth: The sex ratio at birth remains low at 929, reflecting continued sex-selective practices
• State-Wise Sex Ratio in India (According to Census 2011)
  • High Sex Ratio States: Kerala (1084) and Puducherry (1037) recorded the highest sex ratios due to higher female literacy and better healthcare access.
  • Low Sex Ratio States: Haryana(879), Delhi (868), and Chandigarh (818) recorded the lowest sex ratios because of persistent patriarchal attitudes.

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